Anti-fungal activity of Citrus reticulata Blanco essential oil against Penicillium italicum and Penicillium digitatum

Published Date
15 June 2014, Vol.153:265–271, doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.12.070

Author 

• Nengguo Tao ^,
• Lei Jia
• Haien Zhou

• School of Chemical Engineering, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan 411105, PR China

Received 27 September 2013. Revised 11 December 2013. Accepted 17 December 2013. Available online 24 December 2013. 

Highlights

• The monoterpene hydrocarbons account for 88.96% of Ponkan essential oil.
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  The oil exhibited strong anti-fungal activity against P. italicum and P. digitatum.
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  The anti-fungal activity is attributed to octanal, limonene, citronellol and other compounds.
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  The membrane permeability and integrity of the test fungi mycelia are changed by the oil.

Abstract

The chemical composition of Citrus reticulata Blanco essential oil was analysed using GC/MS. Monoterpene hydrocarbons (C₁₀H₁₆) constituted the majority (88.96%, w/w) of the total oil. The oils dose-dependently inhibited Penicillium italicum and Penicillium digitatum. The anti-fungal activity of the oils against P. italicum was attributed to citronellol, octanal, citral, decanal, nonanal, β-pinene, linalool, and γ-terpinene, whereas anti-fungal activity against P. digitatum is attributed to octanal, decanal, nonanal, limonene, citral, γ-terpinene, linalool, and α-terpineol. The oils altered the hyphal morphology of P. italicum and P. digitatum by causing loss of cytoplasm and distortion of the mycelia. The oils significantly altered extracellular conductivity, the release of cell constituents, and the total lipid content of P. italicum and P. digitatum. The results suggest that C. reticulata Blanco essential oils generate cytotoxicity in P. italicum and P. digitatum by disrupting cell membrane integrity and causing the leakage of cell components.

Keywords

Anti-fungal activity

C. reticulata Blanco essential oil

Cytotoxicity

P. italicum

P. digitatum

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