Chemical characterization and in vitro antifungal activity of essential oils from selected native plants of the Andean-Amazonian region of northern Peru against Botrytis cinerea (Sclerotiniaceae)

Mena-Chacon L.M.; Chávez-Chacón E.; Coronel-Castro E.; Santillan-Huaman N.; Rojas-Vargas J.; Huaman-Pilco J.; Mondragon-Herrera E.; Oliva M.; Huaman-Pilco A.F. · Plant Biosystems (2026) · DOI: 10.1007/s44473-026-00258-7

Resumen

The Andean-Amazonian region of northern Peru harbors a rich yet still poorly characterized diversity of aromatic plants with potential applications in sustainable disease management. In this study, essential oils (EOs) from nine selected native species were chemically characterized by GC–MS and evaluated for their in vitro antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea. EO yields varied markedly among species, ranging from 0.25% in Baccharis genistelloides to 1.28% in Peperomia inaequalifolia. Chemical profiles revealed distinct chemotypes dominated by monoterpene hydrocarbons, oxygenated monoterpenes, or sesquiterpene hydrocarbons. The strongest antifungal activity was observed for Baccharis genistelloides and P. inaequalifolia, with ED₅₀ values of 71.50 and 200.63 μL L⁻1, respectively. Notably, P. inaequalifolia achieved complete (100%) mycelial growth inhibition at 500 μL L⁻1 and exhibited a remarkably low ED₉₀/ED₅₀ ratio of 1.31, indicating a steep concentration–response relationship. Its EO was characterized by an oxygenated monoterpene-rich profile dominated by eucalyptol (35.22%), whereas Baccharis genistelloides exhibited a sesquiterpene-rich profile dominated by γ-muurolene and δ-cadinene. Gynoxys malcabalensis, Piper acutifolium, P. lanceifolium, and Siparuna muricata showed intermediate antifungal activity. In contrast, Baccharis latifolia, and Arracacia xanthorrhiza cultivars (Purple and Yellow) exhibited comparatively low antifungal activity (ED₅₀ > 900 μL L⁻1). This study provides the first chemical characterization and antifungal evaluation of the EO from Gynoxys malcabalensis, contributing novel data for a poorly studied Andean species. These findings expand the current phytochemical knowledge of native aromatic species from northern Peru and identify P. inaequalifolia and Baccharis genistelloides as promising sources of antifungal compounds for future postharvest applications. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Società Botanica Italiana onlus 2026.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza de Amazonas