Cinnamomum bark oils: Antifungal properties, mechanisms of action and health

This study compared the antifungal efficacy of essential oils extracted from the bark of Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Cinnamomum camphora. The antifungal activity of essential oils was evaluated against 7-fungal strains (Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Trichoderma viridae, Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizopus stolonifer, Candida albicans and Penicillium chrysogenum) using agar well diffusion, broth microdilution for Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and time-kill kinetic assays. C. zeylanicum bark oil was, dominated by cinnamaldehyde (72.4 %), exhibited superior and broad-spectrum antifungal activity. It showed remarkable efficacy against C. albicans and F. oxysporum, resulting in complete plate clearance and very low MIC values of 0.125 % and 0.25 %, respectively. Time-kill assays confirmed its rapid fungicidal activity against C. albicans. In contrast, C. camphora bark oil, rich in camphor (54.8 %), displayed high activity against P. chrysogenum (MIC 0.5 %) but no inhibition of F. oxysporum. Statistical analysis revealed strong positive correlations between the major constituents and the observed antifungal effects. There was significant potential of C. zeylanicum bark oil as a natural antifungal agent for applications in medicine, agriculture and food preservation. Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise mechanisms of action, conduct in-vivo safety and efficacy studies and develop stable formulations for clinical and commercial use.