Evaluation of Clausena anisata essential oil from Cameroon for controlling food spoilage fungi and its potential use as an antiradical agent

Investigations were conducted to determine the chemical composition, antifungal and antiradical activities of the essential oil extracted from the fresh leaves of Clausena anisata (Willd.) Hook. F. ex Benth (from Cameroon) against Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, A. parasiticus and Fusarium moniliforme. The essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation was analysed by GC and GC/MS. The disc diffusion method was used to evaluate the fungal growth inhibition at various concentrations of the oil while the antiradical activity of the essential oil was studied by the DPPH (diphenyl picryl hydrazyl) method. The main components obtained were E-ocimenone (15.1%), Z-ocimenone (11.5%), gamma-terpinene (11.4%) and germacrene D (10.9%). After 10 days of incubation on essential oil supplemented medium, the growth of A. flavus, A. niger, A. parasiticus and F. moniliforme were totally inhibited by 4, 5, 5 and 5 mg/mL of C. anisata essential oil, respectively. The antiradical activity of C. anisata essential oil (SC50 = 5.1 g/L) was less than that of butylated hydroxyl toluene (BHT), which was used as the reference compound (SC50 = 0.007 g/L). Results obtained in the present study indicate the possibility of exploiting C. anisata essential oil to fight strains of A. flavus, A. niger, A. parasiticus and F. moniliforme responsible for biodeterioration of stored food products.