Antifungal activity of essential oils and their combinations in in vitro and in vivo conditions

Natural additives are in demand for the control of microbial growth in foods. Several natural compounds including essential oils (EOs) are being explored for food uses. In the present investigation, the antifungal activity of cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, peppermint and clove EOs and their combinations was evaluated against 12 species of Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium and Rhizopus in in vitro and tomato fruit system (in-vivo). The EOs were able to inhibit complete growth of tested fungi at or below 0.6% level and 80?μL of EOs (except peppermint oil) in in vitro condition and tomato system, respectively. The fractional inhibitory studies showed either additive or indifferent effect by combining eugenol and peppermint, and indifferent or antagonist effect by combining the cinnamaldehyde and clove in both in vitro and in vivo studies. The findings may be useful for application of these EOs in foods, but their effects on organoleptic quality of foods need to be investigated.