Antifungal Potential of Pimpinella Anisum, Carum Carvi and Coriandrum Sativum Extracts. A Comparative Study With Focus on the Phenolic Composition

Abstract

The present study aimed to characterize the phenolic extracts obtained from fruits of Pimpinella anisum L., Carum carvi L. and Coriandrum sativum L. (Apiaceae), and to assess their antifungal activity against main etiological agents involved in onychomycosis and other dermatomycoses (Trichophyton rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, Microsporum canis, M. gypseum and Candida albicans). Total phenolic and flavonoid contents varied from 3.80 ± 0.49 to 24.16 ± 0.82 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100 g dw, and 12.51 ± 0.14 to 37.75 ± 0.21 mg catechin equivalents (CE)/100 g dw, respectively. HPLC-DAD-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS analysis revealed the presence of chlorogenic acid, dicaffeoylquinic acid, luteolin and apigenin pentoside in all analysed samples. The extracts showed antifungal activity against all tested strains, with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values in the range of 1.25-5 mg/mL. These results provide evidence that phenolic extracts obtained from fruits of P. anisum, C. carvi and C. sativum might be sources of antifungal agents with putative use in onychomycosis.