Antifungal and repellent activities of the essential oils from three aromatic herbs from western Himalaya

Authors: STAPPEN, IRIS - University Of Vienna; Tabanca, Nurhayat; ALI, ABBAS - University Of Mississippi; WANNER, JURGEN - Kurt Kitzing Co; LAL, BRIJ - Central University Of Punjab; JAITAK, VIKAS - Institute Of Himalayan Bioresource Technology; Wedge, David; KAUL, VIJAY - Institute Of Himalayan Bioresource Technology; SCHMIDT, ERICH - University Of Vienna; JIROVETZ, LEOPOLD - University Of Vienna

Submitted to: Open Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/26/2018
Publication Date: 4/24/2018
Citation: Stappen, I., Tabanca, N., Ali, A., Wanner, J., Lal, B., Jaitak, V., Wedge, D.E., Kaul, V.K., Schmidt, E., Jirovetz, L. 2018. Antifungal and repellent activities of the essential oils from three aromatic herbs from western Himalaya. Open Chemistry. 16:306-316. https://doi.org/10.1515/chem-2018-0028.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/chem-2018-0028

Interpretive Summary: Essential oils of three aromatic plants, winged prickly ash (Zanthoxylum armatum), common juniper (Juniperus communis), and wormseed or Jesuit's tea (Dysphania ambrosioides), which are used by the local populations of the western Himalayan region for medicinal purposes, were studied for insect repellency and antifungal and insecticide activities. Wormseed essential oil had the best activity against strawberry anthracnose-causing fungi. Wormseed essential oil also had the highest insect repellency, with activity similar to DEET, followed by winged prickly ash and common juniper essential oils that were about half as potent at DEET.

Technical Abstract: In this investigation we examined the essential oils of three aromatic plants; Zanthoxylum armatum, Juniperus communis, and, Dysphania ambrosioides, which are used by the local population of the western Himalayan region for medicinal purposes. These plants were studied for their antifungal, larvicidal and biting deterrent activity. Additionally, the oils’ chemical compositions were determined by GC-MS and their odor evaluated. The main compounds were; 2-undecanone, 1,8-cineol from Z. armatum, a-pinene, and limonene from J. communis. p-Cymene and ascardiole were found as the main components of D. ambrosioides essential oil. Antifungal activity was evaluated against three Colletotrichum species. Dyspania ambrosioides oil showed the best activity against these strawberry anthracnose causing fungi. It also demonstrated biting deterrent activity against Aedes aegypti similar to DEET as positive control, whereas Z. armatum and J. communis were less effective against Colletotrichum and mosquitoes.