Antifungal activity of Australian grown Lavandula spp. essential oils against Aspergillus nidulans, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Leptosphaeria maculans and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

In this study the antifungal activity of eight essential oils and three hydrosols (aqueous distillates) from Australian grown lavenders was determined. The oils and hydrosols were assayed against four fungi, Aspergillus nidulans, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Leptosphaeria maculans and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, using a disc diffusion method. No evidence of antifungal activity was observed with any of the hydrosols. In contrast, all oils displayed some antifungal activity. Lavandula angustifolia and the three examples of Lavandula x intermedia oil demonstrated the greatest effect against A. nidulans and T mentagrophytes while L. stoechas was particularly effective against the two agricultural fungi, L. maculans and S. sclerotiorum. No significant difference was observed between the antifungal activity of L. angustifolia oils derived from European and Australian grown plants. These results suggest that the oils from various Lavandula species may be useful in the treatment of fungal infections.