Chemical constituents, toxicity, and antifungal potential of Coriandrum sativum L. seed essential oil and their fractions against fungi causing ringworm infection in human.

Coriandrum sativum L. is a most important essential oil-bearing spice (belonging to family Apiaceae) as well as medicinal plant extensively refined all over the world. The C. sativum seed essential oil was extracted through the hydrodistillation method using Clevenger's apparatus. GC and GC/MS analysis revealed the presence of 35 compounds among 99.9% of essential oil. Linalool was the major component (81.83%) followed by geranyl acetate (5.59%), α-pinene (3.55%), estragole (1.53%), trans-anethole (1.18%) and fenchone (1.17%). MIC and MFC of essential oil and its fractions were determined through semi solid agar antifungal susceptibility method. MIC ranged from 0.2±0.000 μl/ml to 0.4±0.577 μL/mL while MFC was found to be 0.23±0.033 μL/mL to 0.567±0.047 μL/mL. Candida albicans (MTCC 3018) was found to be the most resistant strain for present investigation. Trichophyton mentagrophytes (MTCC 7687) was found to be most susceptible fungus while Microsporum gypseum was found to be most resistant fungus. Essential oil was further subjected to glass oven equipment for the separation of fractions at different boiling temperature. Five fractions were separated and labeled as CI-CV. Due to very less amount, CV fraction could not be used for the screening of antidermatophytic activity. Among all these fractions, CII was found to be most effective fraction against all selected fungi. Toxicological properties of essential oil were determined tropically on swiss albino mice. Low concentration of upto 3% did not show any irritation on mice's skin. At 5% concentration, 1 mice showed mild erythema, which was disappeared on 48 hours observation. While on 7% concentration, all five mice exhibited well defined erythema up to 24 hours of the observation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]