Specification of the fungicidal properties of eugenol essential oil for the fungi culture species Aspergillus niger

У статті наведені результати експериментального дослідження фунгіцидної активності ефірної олії евгенолу щодо грибів виду Aspergillus niger. За результатами дослідження встановлена фунгіцидна дія евгенолу у діапазоні 267,4-16,7 мг/мл, визначена мінімальна фунгіцидна активність евгенолу щодо грибів виду Aspergillus niger, яка становила 16,7 мг/мл. Фунгіостатична активність евгенолу не була встановлена. Ефірна олія евгенолу може бути використана як дезінфікуючий засіб; В статье приведены результаты экспериментального исследования фунгицидной активности эфирного масла по отношению к грибам вида Aspergillus niger. По результатам исследования установлено фунгицидное действие эвгенола в диапазоне 267,4-16,7 мг/мл, определена минимальная фунгицидная активность эвгенола по отношению к грибам вида Aspergillus niger, которая составляла 16,7 мг/мл. Фунгиостатическая активность эвгенола не была установлена. Эфирное масло эвгенола может бать использовано как дезинфицирующее средство; Pathogenic fungi of genus Aspergillus are widely spread in nature. They colonize various environmental niches and live in natural areas of the globe on all the continents. Aspergilli, in the broadest sense of the genus can be unique pathogens but at the same time they are saprobes. They are resistant to such factors as UV irradiation, high or low temperatures. The toxic substances harmful to humans and animals that can be accumulated in the organism and pollute the environment are used to fight with the pathogenic fungi spores. Therefore, the development of new, effective, environmentally safe compositions of plant origin, which include essential oils is the priority and currently important task. Substances of plant origin do not cause microbial resistance, allergic, immunotoxic and mutagenic effects even in long-term use. According to the literature data the use of eugenol (4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol) which belongs to the phenol group is widely applied in medicine and has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving properties. Therefore, the aim of our study was to determine the minimal inhibitory concentration of eugenol essential oil for the culture of fungi species Aspergillus niger. While studying the effect of eugenol on the selected culture of fungi species A. niger the drug efficiency inhibiting its growth on the dense nutrient medium was presented. The paper disc method determined that the eugenol essential oil represented pronounced antifungal properties against the studied Aspergillus niger culture, that was stated by the diameter index of growth inhibition of culture (39±0.8 mm). The growth inhibition of the fungi species A. niger was observed in the nutrient medium with concentration of eugenol essential oil in the range of 267.4 mg/ml – 16.7 mg/ml after 72 hours and the minimal inhibitory concentration of eugenol for A. niger was 16.7 mg/ml. It was determined that the minimal fungicidal concentration of eugenol essential oil after 72 hours of incubation amounts to 16.7 mg/ml. Thus, the fungistatic eugenol effect on fungi of the species Aspergillus niger according to given dilutions was not observed. The fungicidal activity of essential oils depends on their ability to dissolve in fats, which causes their permeability through biological membranes. It is known that the structure of eugenol contains lipophilic molecules that are able to penetrate between acyl links of fatty acids, thereby disrupting fluidity and permeability of membranes. This affects the regulation and functioning of membrane-associated enzymes that catalyze synthesis of the major polisaharid components of cell wall, including beta-glycan, chitin, mannan, which causes the disruption of cell growth and membrane morphogenesis. Consequently, the eugenol essential oil can be used as disinfectant