Antifungal activity of geraniol and citronellol against food-relevant dematiaceous fungi Cladosporium spp

Aldeir Sabino dos Santos; Gezaíldo Santos Silva; Kaltz Victor Souza Silva; Maria Islaine de Oliveira Lima; Juliana Moura Mendes Arrua; Edeltrudes de Oliveira Lima; Fillipe de Oliveira Pereira

Aldeir Sabino dos Santos Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Centro de Educação e Saúde, Cuité, PB
Gezaíldo Santos Silva Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Centro de Educação e Saúde, Cuité, PB
Kaltz Victor Souza Silva Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Centro de Educação e Saúde, Cuité, PB
Maria Islaine de Oliveira Lima Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Centro de Educação e Saúde, Cuité, PB
Juliana Moura Mendes Arrua Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Centro Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Tecnólogicas, San Lorenzo
Edeltrudes de Oliveira Lima Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Laboratório de Micologia, João Pessoa, PB
Fillipe de Oliveira Pereira Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Centro de Educação e Saúde, Cuité, PB

Resumen

Cladosporium spp. is a group of dematiaceous food-relevant fungi which are well dispersed in the environment causing food spoilage and poisoning. Considering the importance of fungal contamination, natural drugs to control their growth have become important. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory effects of two monoterpenoids, (geraniol and citronellol), against strains of Cladosporium carrioni, C. cladosporioides, and C. oxysporum. Methods: The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Fungicide Concentration (MFC) of the drugs were determined by microdilution. The effects of test drugs on mycelial dry weight, conidia germination, and conidiogenesis of Cladosporium spp. were also investigated using a hemacytometer. Respective MIC and MFC values of citronellol varied from 256 to 512 µg/mL, and from 256 to 2048 µg/mL. The MIC and MFC of geraniol varied similarly to citronellol. Conidia germination, mycelial dry weight, and conidiogenesis of Cladosporium spp. were reduced by the test-drugs at 1/2MIC, MIC and 2xMIC (p< 0.05). These measurable cell events are essential for fungal infection and development in foods. The action of citronellol and geraniol against Cladosporium spp. suggest that the drugs may serve as effective agents for controlling fungal contamination and growth in foods.