Antifungal activity of Lavandula x intermedia Emeric ex Loisel. ‘Budrovka’

Lavandula x intermedia Emeric ex Loisel. ‘Budrovka’ is an indigenous cultivar of lavandin which has been widely cultivated in Croatia as an essential oil crop. Our previous studies revealed strong antioxidant and antibacterial activities of its various extracts [1, 2]. Continuing our evaluation of biomedical potential of lavandin ‘Budrovka’, the present work focuses on the investigation of antifungal activity. For this purpose, liquid ethanolic extracts were prepared from different plant parts: flowers, inflorescence stalks and leaves. Employing the agar-well diffusion method, the extracts were screened for antifungal activity against eight yeast strains (Candida albicans, C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. kefyr, C. tropicalis, Cryptococcus neoformans, Blastoschizomyces capitatus and Hansenula anomala) and five molds (Aspergillus fumigatus, A. niger, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium citrinum and Trichoderma viride). Overall, the tested extracts were more effective against yeasts than molds. The measured zones of inhibition of fungal growth strongly indicated that the antifungal constituents reside primarily in the flower (ZI: 10–21mm), whereas the inflorescence stalk and leaves extracts exhibited considerably weaker activity (ZI ≤10). Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC, vol%) and minimal fungicidal concentrations (MFC, vol%) for each strain were determined by the broth dilution assay. Results obtained for flower, leaf and inflorescence stalk extracts revealed that Candida krusei was the most sensitive tested strain (MIC: 0.05, 8 and 9%, respectively), while Aspergillus niger was the most resistant (MIC: 4, 30 and 35%, respectively). In conclusion, the present study highlighted the antifungal potential of Lavandula x intermedia ‘Budrovka’ flowers.

References: 1. Blaekovic, B., Vladimir-Kneevic, S. (2008) Planta Med. 74:951.

2. Blaekovic, B. et al. (2005) Book of Abstracts of 53rd Annual Congress of the Society for Medicinal Plant Research. Firenca. Societa italiana di fitochimica, 145.