Dermatophytosis, a superficial fungal infection caused by dermatophytes such as Trichophyton mentagrophytes, has become increasingly difficult to manage due to rising resistance to synthetic antifungals like terbinafine. This study evaluates the potential of peppermint (Mentha × piperita L.) essential oil, rich in menthol, as a natural antifungal alternative. Peppermint oil was extracted through water distillation and tested at concentrations of 25%, 12.5%, 6.25%, 3.125%, 1.562%, 0.781%, 0.390%, and 0.195% to evaluate its inhibitory effects on three different strains of T. mentagrophytes. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was determined using the microdilution method according to CLSI M38 guidelines. Antifungal activity was assessed based on medium turbidity, with itraconazole serving as a positive control. The findings revealed that peppermint oil at a concentration of 0.78125% suppressed the growth of two T. mentagrophytes variants, whereas a concentration of 12.5% was required to inhibit the third variant. These results suggest that peppermint essential oil could serve as a natural antifungal agent against T. mentagrophytes, justifying additional research as an alternative to synthetic therapies.
The emergence of antifungal resistance in Candida albicans necessitates the development of alternative therapeutic agents. This study evaluated the antifungal properties of Embelia ribes extracts using both in silico and in vitro approaches. Fresh and dry seeds were extracted using solvents of varying polarity and analyzed via GC-MS/MS. Results indicated that the fresh methanolic extract (FERM) exhibited superior antifungal activity with a zone of inhibition of 21.6 ± 0.5 mm, which was statistically equivalent to the positive control (Clotrimazole, 22.0 ± 1.0 mm). Bioactive profiling identified Piperine (24.07%) as the primary constituent in the most active extract. Molecular docking revealed that Piperine and Dipiperonylamine possess strong binding affinities for Cyclooxygenase-2 and Kappa-opioid receptors, suggesting a dual antifungal and anti-inflammatory mechanism. Pharmacokinetic profiling (ADME/T) confirmed favourable drug-like properties, however, low CNS permeability limits their utility to the treatment of peripheral infections. These findings position E. ribes as a promising source for the development of novel antifungal drugs.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are obligate symbiotic microorganisms that form associations with a variety of plant species and are found in several biomes, such as the Brazilian Caatinga. This study aimed to determine the diversity, richness and distribution of AMF communities in four areas with different soil textural classes and vegetation type in the Caatinga. Nine soil and root samples were collected during the dry season in each area, totalling 36 sampling units. In total, 45 AMF species were recorded, with a predominance of the genera Acaulospora and Glomus. The highest species richness was observed in Open shrubby Caatinga, with a loamy sand textural class, which had higher density of glomerospores. A higher rate of mycorrhizal colonization was observed in ‘Brejo de altitude’, i.e. a mountain top rainforest, with sandy clay loamy soil. Soil texture was the main determining soil factor in structuring the AMF communities in the areas in addition to other factors—fine sand, coarse sand, phosphorus, hydrogen, aluminium, aluminium saturation and base saturation— were also important in determining the composition of the AMF communities in the areas studied.
Sudden wilt disease caused by Ceratocystis has been reported to attack and cause up to 100% mortality in duku plants in South Sumatra. Biological control of this disease in duku plants has not been widely implemented, so it is important to research endophytes to identify microorganisms that live and thrive within plant tissues and can enhance plant resistance to diseases and environmental stress. This study aims to identify endophytic fungi species from duku plant stems and their potential to inhibit the growth of the pathogen Ceratocystis, the cause of wilt disease in duku plants. Endophytic fungi were isolated from the stems of duku plants in Ogan Ilir Regency, Ogan Komering Ilir Regency, and Musi Banyuasin Regency. Eleven isolates of endophytic fungi were successfully isolated and fungal identification was conducted by PCR amplification and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) and ITS4 regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA as Trichoderma asperelum, Phoma sp. Fusarium oxysporum, Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Penicillium citrinum, Nigrospora oryzae, Nigrospora sphaerica, Eutiarosporella sp. All endophytic fungi isolate exhibited varying levels of inhibitory ability; the isolate with the highest inhibitory ability was SDW 3B (52%), isolates with moderate inhibitory ability were DSPTW 6A, SDMW 7B, SDMW 8A, and SDW 5A (44% to 47%), and the isolate with the lowest inhibitory ability was TRW1B, TRW5, WSA4A and RMIP1 (39-43%). Regarding hyphal interaction mechanisms, six isolates (SDMW 7B, SDW 3B, RMIP 1, TRW 5, TRW 1B, and WSA 4A) caused pathogenic hyphae to lyse. DSPTW 6A Isolate caused pathogenic hyphae to swell, and three isolates (SDW 5A, SDMW 8A, and TRW 1B) caused pathogenic hyphae to coil and lyse.
Pea downy mildew caused by the obligate parasitic fungus Peronospora viciae (Berk.) Casp. f. sp. pisi Sydow, occurs sporadically throughout temperate pea-growing regions worldwide. The methods of seed inoculation and soil infestation with the pathogen on the incidence of downy mildew in a pot experiment revealed that sowing pea seeds artificially inoculated with sporangia and healthy seeds in naturally and artificially infested soils with P. viciae, resulted in disease infection. No symptoms were observed on the seedling until 10 days after sowing. Disease symptoms started appearing 21 and 30 days after sowing. Spraying any of the three Chemical Inducers of Plant Resistance (CIPRs) and fungicide-treated seeds, Previcur-N or Salicylic acid resulted in a significant reduction in values of the severity of downy mildew along with significant increases in the green pod yield compared with the control treatment. Spraying of fungicides Previcur-N on plants raised from seeds previously soaked in Previcur-N, salicylic acid and water was the superior treatment in lowering the severity of the disease. Spraying of both Bion and chitosan individually was the least effective treatment in the severity of the disease, therefore increasing the green pod yield. Spraying pea plants with any of the tested chemical inducers of plant resistance and fungicides caused a considerable increase in the oxidative-reductive enzymes, total nitrogen and total protein contents compared with the untreated control treatment. The highest increase was observed in plants treated with the three chemical inducers of plant resistance: Bion, Chitosan, and Salicylic acid, along with the fungicide Previcur-N.
