CINNAMON BARK OIL, A POTENT FUNGITOXICANT AGAINST FUNGI CAUSING RESPIRATORY-TRACT MYCOSES

Cinnamic aldehyde has been identified as the active fungitoxic constit uent of cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) bark oil. The fungitoxic prop erties of the vapours of the oil/active constituent against fungi invo lved in respiratory tract mycoses, i.e., Aspergillus niger, A. fumigat us, A. nidulans, A. flavus, Candida albicans, C. tropicalis, C. pseudo tropicalis, and Histoplasma capsulatum, were determined in vitro as mi nimum inhibitory concentration (MIG), minimum lethal concentration (ML C), inoculum density sustained, and exposure duration for fungicidal a ction at MIC and higher doses, as well as effect of incubation tempera tures on fungitoxicity. It is concluded that these inhalable vapours a ppear to approach the ideal chemotherapy for respiratory tract mycoses .