Schinus molle essential oil as a potential source of bioactive compounds: antifungal and antibacterial properties.

AIMS: The study was focused on the evaluation of antimicrobial activity in vitro of the essential oil of leaves from S. molle against bacteria and fungi of clinical importance in the search for the discovery of new active compounds.

METHODS AND RESULTS: The chemical composition of the S. molle essential oil was determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and its antimicrobial effect was verified by broth microdilution method. The major compounds found were β-pinene (25.23%), epi-α-cadinol (21.29%), α-pinene (18.72%), myrcene (11.54%) and sabinene (5.02%). The essential oil showed significant antifungal activity against Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (39.06 μg·mL-1 ), weak action against Cryptococcus neoformans (625 μg·mL-1 ) and Trichophyton quinckeanum (625 μg·mL-1 ) and was inactive against Candida spp. In the analysis of the antibacterial action, the microorganisms tested did not show sensitivity.

CONCLUSIONS: This study showed a promising result of S. molle volatiles against the fungus P. brasiliensis, which causes paracoccidioidomycosis, a systemic mycosis of great clinical importance in Latin America.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY: The results found here are novel and encourage investigations of the compounds present in this essential oil, which represents a source of molecules with potential use in the treatment of paracoccidioidomycosis. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.