Study of the Inhibitory Activity of Basil Oil Against Aspergillus niger and Identification of Some of Its Active Compounds

Abstract

Study of the The effect of various concentrations of basil Ocimum sp. oil on the growth of Aspergillus niger was investigated. All tested concentrations demonstrated a noticeable inhibitory effect against this fungus. The inhibitory activity varied with concentration, and concentrations of (2, 6, 8, 10, 20, 30, 40, 60) µL/mL exhibited 100% inhibition of Aspergillus niger. An inhibition rate of 64.28% was recorded at a concentration of 1 µL/mL, while the inhibition dropped to 2.38% at 0.2 µL/mL when the colony diameter reached 8.2 cm on the seventh day of incubation. 

Chemical analyses performed using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed the presence of 30 distinct compounds in basil oil. The most abundant constituents were: α-Bergamotene, β-Elemene, Caryophyllene, β-Linalool, α-Bulnesene, γ-Cadinene, Germacrene D, Cubenol, and γ-Eudesmol.