In vitro efficacy of 75 essential oils against Aspergillus niger

Summary Aspergillus niger is an opportunistic human pathogen and a strong air pollutant. A study was conducted with 75 different essential oils for the inhibition of hyphal growth and spore formation in Aspergillus niger . Cinnamomum zeylanicum (bark), Cinnamomum zeylanicum (leaf), Cinnamomum cassia , Syzygium aromaticum and Cymbopogon citratus were the top five essential oils which demonstrated marked inhibitory effect against hyphal growth and spore formation of A. niger . The chemical composition of these five most active essential oils was investigated by gas chromatography–mass spectra (GC–MS). Most of the other essential oils were found challenging to combat A. niger , suggesting their use as strong aroma therapeutic agents.