Antimycotic activity of the essential oil of Artemisia nilagirica

During screening of essential oils isolated from leaves of 10 angiospermic taxa against dermatophytes Epidermophyton floccosum and Trichophyton violac eum, the essential oil of Artemisia nilagirica was found to possess complet e antidermatophytic activity by the poisoned food technique. The minimum in hibitory concentration of the oil was found to be 200 ppm. It was fungistat ic in nature and had a broad fungitoxic spectrum. An ointment of the essent ial oil prepared in polyethylene glycol showed pronounced efficacy as a her bal antifungal agent against dermatomycosis induced in guinea-pigs within 1 4 days of application. The oil was standardized on the basis of its differe nt physico chemical properties, such as specific gravity, specific rotation , refractive index, acid value, saponification value, carbonyl percentage a nd phenolic content. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.