Chemical composition and antifungal activity of Salvia sclarea (Lamiaceae) essential oil

Clary sage (Salvia sclarea L.) is native to Southern Europe and is cultivated worldwide. The essential oil of clary sage was analyzed as a potential antifungal agent. The main compounds in the oil were linalyl acetate (52.83%) and linalool (18.18%). Food poisoning agents, spoilage fungi, and plant and animal pathogens were among the tested fungal species. The microdilution method was used to establish minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimal fungicidal concentrations (MFC). The commercial antimycotic bifonazole was used as a control. A concentration of 25 mu l/ml showed fungicidal activity against Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fusarium species and Trichoderma viride. For the species Mucor mucedo and Aspergillus viride, the MFC was 15 mu l/ml; for Candida albicans, it was 10 mu l/ml, as in the case of bifonazole. Fungistatic and fungicidal activities of the oil against Cladosporium cladosporioides and Trichophyton menthagrophytes were recorded at concentrations of 2.5 mu l/ml and 5 mu l/ml. The most sensitive micromycetes were Cladosporium fulvum, Alternaria alternata, Phomopsis helianthi, and Phoma macdonaldii, where a concentration of 2.5 mu l/ml was lethal.