Chemical composition and antifungal activity of the essential oil from the Hymenaea stigonocarpa Mart. Ex Hayne (jatoba-do-cerrado) fruit peel

This study investigated the chemical composition and the antifungal activity of the essential oil extracted from the Hymenaea stigonocarpa fruit peel (HSFPEO) against Botrytis cinerea, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Aspergillus flavus and Colletotrichum truncatum. The HSFPEO obtained through hydrodistillation was analyzed with gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The antifungal activity was determined by the mean mycelial growth inhibition of the fungus treated with essential oils and growth control. The major constituents of HSFPEO were spathulenol (25.19%) and caryophyllene oxide (13.33%). HSFPEO demonstrated antifungal activity against all fungi tested in all concentrations evaluated in a dose-dependent behavior. The best results were observed against B. cinerea and A. flavus, in which the lowest concentration tested inhibited more than 70% of mycelial growth. Based on the current knowledge, this study describes for the first time the chemical composition and the antifungal activity of HSFPEO against the phytopathogenic fungi B. cinerea and C. truncatum.

Automated summary

This study analyzed the chemical composition and antifungal activity of the essential oil extracted from the Hymenaea stigonocarpa fruit peel. The oil showed antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Aspergillus flavus and Colletotrichum truncatum. The main constituents of the oil were spathulenol and caryophyllene oxide. This study is the first to describe the chemical composition and antifungal activity of this essential oil against B. cinerea and C. truncatum.