• Dr. Riddhi Mohanlal Patel

Plant-based antifungal components possess a target specific effect, eco-friendly, bio-degradable in nature and serve a best alternative to these hazardous synthetic chemicals. In the present work, an effort was made to find bio-safe antifungal potency amongst Wintergreen oil. Physiologically; botanical antifungal principles result into a disruption of the fungal pathogen’s membrane, and results into a cell leakage, cytoplasmic evacuation and loss of proton motive force and thus results in the fungal growth inhibition. Primary screening and subsequent Dose optimization study in the present work has revealed that screened Wintergreen essential oil- Gaultheria procumbens -Family: Ericaceae possess broad-spectrum antifungal potential. The present data on the effective antifungal property of Wintergreen oil can be further used to increase the shelf-life of harvested fruits and vegetables produce and to prevent post-harvest yield loss during transportation. Likewise, results of the present study may also form the basis for added investigation to isolate the active principles, elucidate the structures and evaluate them against wider range of drug-resistant fungal strains.

Fungal spoilage, Essential oils, Antifungal principles

"SCREENING ANTIFUNGAL POTENCY OF WINTERGREEN ESSENTIAL OIL AGAINST COMMON FRUIT AND VEGETABLE ROT CAUSING FUNGI", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 5, page no.d64-d69, May-2025, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2505341.pdf

"SCREENING ANTIFUNGAL POTENCY OF WINTERGREEN ESSENTIAL OIL AGAINST COMMON FRUIT AND VEGETABLE ROT CAUSING FUNGI", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 5, page no. ppd64-d69, May-2025, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2505341.pdf