Phytochemical Screening and Antidermatophytic Activity of Lavender Essential Oil from Saudi Arabia

Background and Objective: Lavender is a common and popular aromatic Mediterranean herb belongs to Lamiaceae family. In Saudi Arabia, Lavender is growing in some regions such as Albaha but there is no reported data on it. Recently, Most research on plants reported that lavender have antibacterial, antifungal antimutagenic and neuroprotective activities. The aim of this research was to study phytochemical and antidermatophytic screening of lavender and its essential oil (EO) in Saudi Arabia. Also, to assess the antidermatophytic activity of lavender essential oil before and after radiation. Materials and Methods: Essential oil has been isolated from lavender [Lanvandula angustifolia(L. angustifolia) Miller] harvested from Albaha region. It has been isolated by steam distillation, it was analyzed by Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The antidermatophytic activity of isolated compounds of plant was determined against five dermatophytes and yeast by well-cut diffusion method. Results: The results showed antidermatophytic activity of irradiated essential oil display the stronger effect against Microsporum gallinae (M. gallinae), Microsporum gypseum (M. gypseum), Microsporum canis(M.canis), Trichophyton mentagrophytes(T. mentagrophytes), Trichophyton verrucosum(T. verrucosum) and Candida tropicalis(C. tropicalis). The inhibition of essential oil before radiation on T. mentagrophytes was higher than after radiation. Leaves and flowers extracts have a strong inhibitory effect on M. canis and M. gallinae. Conclusion: The p-value was significantly higher for essential oil after radiation, than essential oil before radiation on pathogenic fungi, then leaves and flowers extract of lavender exhibited antidermatophytic activity on M. gallinae, T. mentagrophytes and M. canis.