Aspergillus niger antifungal activity of citral and citral - rich Vietnamese balm Elsholtzia ciliata essential oil

Tóm tắt

Mold contamination and mycotoxin production remain major food safety concerns in Vietnam due to climatic vulnerability. With limited access to modern preservation technologies, essential oils (EOs) offer a promising natural strategy for mold control, which aligns with consumer preferences for natural preservatives. This study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition and antifungal activity of Vietnamese balm (Elsholtzia ciliata) EO, and to directly compare these properties with those of citral, its major component. Citral, a monoterpene composed of neral and geranial, is recognized as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS). Analysis of E. ciliata EO from Hong Van, Hanoi, showed high concentrations of citral derivatives (47.12%). Both E. ciliata EO and citral inhibited Aspergillus niger growth by suppressing mycelial development and delaying sporulation. E. ciliata EO displayed a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.34 mg/mL and a minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of 5.38 mg/mL, whereas citral's MIC and MFC were lower (0.18 mg/mL and 1.39 mg/mL, respectively), indicating greater potency. Thus, citral alone exhibited stronger antifungal activity than the whole EO, highlighting E. ciliata as a valuable natural source for citral extraction and antifungal application.