engleski

Natural Antimycotics from Croatian Plants

The results of an investigation into the antifungal activity of extracts and essential oils derived from various Croatian native plants are presented in this paper. The activities covered are those due to the rising incidence of fungal infections, both systemic and superficial, and the occurrence of fungal resistance to existing antimicotics. In our investigation of the antifungal activity of some continental and coastal plants we examined 13 types of essential oils which show relatively low values of minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) against clinical yeast isolates. The most effective are the essential oil of mint (Mentha piperita, MIC 0.09-0.78 %vol), spruce (Piecea abies, MIC 0.05-0.78 %vol), sweet orange (Citrus aurantium subsp. dulcis, MIC 0.02-1.56 %vol), lemon balm (Melissa officinalis, MIC 0.19-2.0 %vol), pelargonium (Pelargonium radula, MIC 0.6-2.5 %vol), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis, 0.09-3.12 %vol) and wormwood (Artemisia absinthium, MIC 0.19-3.12 %vol). Somewhat weaker antifungal activity is possessed by the essential oils of sage (Salvia officinalis, MIC 0.05-6.25 %vol), lemon (Citrus limon, MIC 0.7-6.25 %vol), thyme leaved savory (Micromeria thymifolia, MIC 1.5-6.2 %vol) and feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium, MIC 2.5-6.25 %vol). The highest values of MIC against the investigated yeasts were shown by essential oils of juniper-tree (Juniperus communis, MIC 0.78-10 %vol) and lavender (Lavandula officinalis, MIC 3.12-25 %vol). Clinical isolates of various dermatophyte species are more sensitive to the antifungal activity of essential oils than yeasts like microorganisms. Essential oils of mint, thyme leaved savory, spruce, sweet orange and lemon have low MIC (under 1 %vol) and a very good antifungal activity. For other essential oils investigated, MICs are between 1 and 25 %vol. Ethanol extracts of 11 plants investigated show that dermatophyte species are more sensitive than yeasts. Good antifungal activity was found in the following plants: knapweed (Centaurea rupestris, MIC 1.4-1.6 %vol), thyme leaved savory (MIC 4.5-6.5 %vol), celandine (Chelidonium majus, MIC 1.5-8 %vol) and Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus, MIC 3.5-7 %vol). A weaker effect was found in extracts of goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea, MIC 11-60 %vol) and early goldenrod (Solidago gigantea, MIC 17-55 %vol) and pelargonium (Pelargonium radula, MIC 6.25-100 %vol). The lowest MIC against the investigated yeasts but with a limited spectrum of activity is found in extracts of Island moss (Cetraria islandica, MIC 8-12.5 %vol) and savory (Satureja montana subsp. montana, MIC 3.12-12.5 %vol). Good activity is shown by Chaste tree (MIC 7-15.6 %vol), thyme leaved savory (MIC 4.5-20 %vol) and feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium, MIC 12.5-35 %vol). Weaker antifungal activity was registered in extracts of early goldenrod (MIC 25 - 27.5 %vol), celandine (MIC 20-40 %vol), barberry (Berberis croatica, MIC 15-50 %vol) and goldenrod (MIC 40-50 %vol). The investigations which were made of the antifungal activity of essential oils and extracts of plants which grow in the continental and coastal parts of Croatia show that all the plant extracts investigated have some antifungal activity, while their essential oils are significant antimicotics.

antimycotics, essential oils, extracts, Croatia

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