title: Essential oil of Daucus carota subsp. halophilus: composition, antifungal activity and cytotoxicity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Essential oils are known to possess antimicrobial activity against a wide spectrum of bacteria and fungi. Daucus carota L. is used since olden times in traditional medicine, due to recognized therapeutic properties, namely the antimicrobial activity of their essential oils.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In the present study the composition and the antifungal activity of the oils of Daucus carota L. subsp. halophilus (Brot.) A. Pujadas (Apiaceae), an endemic plant from Portugal, were evaluated. Moreover, their cytotoxicity in mouse skin dendritic cells at concentration showing significant antifungal activity was also evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The oils were investigated by GC and GC-MS and the antifungal activity (MIC and MLC) were evaluated against yeasts, dermatophyte and Aspergillus strains. Assessment of cell viability was made by the MTT assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed large variations in the compositions during ontogenesis, particularly in the amounts of elemicin that increased significantly in the ripe umbels (5.9% vs. 31.0%). The results also demonstrated that the oil with high amounts of elemicin, which have stronger antifungal activity, showed no cytotoxic effect, at concentrations ranging from 0.16 to 0.64 microl/ml, for as long as 24h.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is possible to find appropriate doses of Daucus carota oil showing both antifungal activity and very low detrimental effect on mammalian cells.
authors.affiliation: Jardim Botânico/Departamento de Botânica, Calçada Martim de Freitas, Universidade de Coimbra, 3001-455 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana Cristina
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Tavares
authors.forename: Maria José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cavaleiro
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Maria Celeste
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Canhoto
authors.forename: Lígia Ribeiro
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Salgueiro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D018552:Daucus carota / Q000737:chemistry*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D051379:Mice; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity; D011174:Portugal; D018675:Toxicity Tests
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D009822:Oils, Volatile