Abstract:
The fungus
Cochliobolus
is the teleomorph of
Bipolaris
and
Curvularia
which are
economically important plant pathogens worldwide. S
everal species of
Bipolaris
are well
documented human pathogens. The aim of the present
study was to evaluate the efficacy
of the essential oil of
Ocimum basilicum
against some
Bipolaris
and
Cochliobolus
species.
Sixteen compounds, representing 95.4% of the chemic
al components of the essential oil of
Ocimum basilicum
, were identified by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectr
ometry (GC-
MS). The main compounds were estragole (55.95%), 1,
8-Cineole (10.56%), methyl
eugenol (10.09%) and linalool (5.57%). Aromatic oxy
genated monoterpenes (57.42%)
were the dominant constituents of the essential oil
followed by oxygenated monoterpenes
(16.13%) and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (6.9%). The
essential oil exhibited a complete
inhibition of the growth of
Bipolaris ellisii, Bipolaris hawaiensis
,
Bipolaris
spicifera,
Cochliobolus
australiensis
and
Cochliobolus
cynodontis
at 80 mg/mL and fungicidal
effect on
Cochliobolus australiensis
only at the same concentration after six and twelv
e
days of exposure. Spore germination and germ tube e
longation of
B. hawaiensis
were
completely inhibited by the essential oil (at 40 mg
/mL) and
B. spicifera
(at 80 mg/mL)
with
minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values rangi
ng from 40 to 160 mg/mL.
These results suggest that the essential oil of
Ocimum basilicum
is a potential and
promising antifungal tool for controlling plant and
human fungal pathogens.
Keywords:
GC–MS, Antifungal tools, Plant pathogens
