Antifungal activity of Swertia ciliata (Family-Gentianaceae), Acorus calamus (Family-Araceae) and Viola serpens (Family Violaceae) from Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand Himalayas, India

Abstract

Plant essential oils are potential source of antimicrobials of natural origin. Essential oils and extracts obtained from many plants have recently gained a great popularity and scientific interest. Consumer demand for natural preservatives has increased, whereas the safety aspect of chemical additives has been questioned. The plant oil has been reported to have antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitic and antidermatophytic properties. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the antifungal activity of three essential oils (EOs), against Picher guilliermondii and Candida albicans strains. Three medicinally important plants Swertia ciliata, Acorus calamus and Viola serpens were evaluated for their antifungal activities. The oil of Swertia ciliata had moderate to good activity against the tested Candida albicans pathogens and the oil of Acorus calamus and Viola serpens show good activity against Pichia guilliermondii on the basis of zone of inhibition and MIC values. These results support the plant oils can be used to cure mycotic infections and plant oils may have role as pharmaceutical and preservatives.