Chemical composition and in vitro antifungal activity of essential oils from the fruits of Schinus molle L. (Anacardiaceae)

Abstract This study explored the chemical composition and antifungal properties of the essential oil extracted from the fruits of Schinus molle L. (Anacardiaceae), focusing on its activity against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides , a phytopathogenic fungus responsible for anthracnose in several economically important crops, causing pre- and postharvest losses. Essential oils were obtained from fruits collected in preserved (PAEO) and urbanized (UAEO) areas by hydrodistillation, and their chemical composition was determined by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The antifungal activity was assessed by calculating the mean mycelial growth inhibition of the fungus treated with essential oils, compared to the growth in the control. The major compounds identified were terpinen-4-ol (28.61 %), α -pinene (15.26 %), and γ -terpinene (12.45 %) in PAEO and limonene (39.12 %) and sabinene (35.70 %) in UAEO. At a concentration of 250 μL mL −1 , PAEO completely inhibited fungal growth. For UAEO, the inhibition of mycelial growth was 64.7 %, 48.4 %, and 42.3 % at concentrations of 500, 250, and 125 μL mL −1 , respectively.