Bassam Al-Oklaa (1), Radwan Badr Al-Deen (1), and Nour haj Msoud(1) (1) National Commission for Biotechnology, Damascus, Syria. (Corresponding author: Dr. Bassam Al-Oklaa, E-Mail: Bassam78alk@gmail.com)
Abstract
Citrus fruits are considered the major source of essential oils. However these essential oils are not invested in Syria. The current study aimed to investigate the chemical composition of the peel essential oils extracted from sweet and bitter oranges, in addition to the antifungal activity of these two essential oils against some Candida species. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique was used for identifying the chemical composition of these two essential oils, after extraction using the hydro-distillation method. The minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) method was used to determine the antifungal activity towards four Candida species. Results showed that the essential oils extracted from the peels of bitter orange were active towards all Candida species in MBCs ranged from 20 mg/ml against C. krusei, C. famata and C. sphaerica, to 30 mg/ml against C. guillieromondii; while the essential oil extracted from the peels of sweet orange was active towards the first three species (C. krusei, C. famata and C. sphaerica), in MBCs of 30 mg/ml and inactive against the species C. guillieromondii.
Keywords: Essential oils, antifungal activity, minimal bactericidal concentration, C. krusei, C. famata and C. sphaerica, C. guillieromondii, Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

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