Evaluation of the Efficacy of Myrtle, Myrtus communis Essential Oils against Some Mold Fungi

Abstract

The study was conducted in Latakia, Syria, during July 2024 to extract essential oil from wild and cultivated myrtle, Myrtus communis L. and to evaluate its antifungal activity against Penicillium digitatum and Alternaria alternata. Essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger apparatus. The results indicated that essential oil content varied according to geographical location, where wild myrtle showed higher oil content (3.32, 1.56 and 1.37%) compared with cultivated myrtle (1.10, 1.20 and 1.14%). GC–MS analysis revealed significant differences in chemical composition between the two types. Wild myrtle was characterized by higher concentrations of major terpenoid compounds, including humulene and terpinen-4-ol, as well as unique constituents such as β-myrcene and 2-undecanone, whereas cultivated myrtle contained specific compounds such as butylated hydroxytoluene. Variations were also observed in shared compounds, reflecting the influence of environmental and growth conditions on oil composition. The antifungal activity of aqueous and acetone extracts was evaluated at concentrations of 0, 100, 300, 450, and 600 ppm. The acetone extract of wild myrtle exhibited the highest inhibitory effect at 600 ppm, with inhibition rates of 61.20 and 51.76% against P. digitatum and A. alternata, respectively. In cultivated myrtle, the acetone extract also showed higher efficacy than the aqueous extract. The experiment was implemented in a split randomized complete block design, and statistically analysed using GenStat software revealing significant differences at the 1% probability level between extract types.

Keywords:

Plant extracts, biological control, Penicillium digitatum, Alternaria alternata, Myrtus communis L.