This study investigated the effects of different Clevenger apparatus temperatures on the chemical composition and biological activity of essential oils obtained from the leaves of bay laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) and sage (Salvia officinalis L.) leaves, and the findings revealed that the chemical composition and antifungal activity of the essential oils changed significantly depending on the temperature of the Clevenger apparatus used.
The amounts of the identified chemicals and their antifungal activity increased with Clevenger apparatus temperature during essential oil extraction, with maximum chemical content and antifungal activity at 140 °C, decreasing at higher temperatures. The primary chemicals identified at this temperature in laurel leaves essential oil were Eucalyptol (58.14%), α-Pinene (8.09%), Thuja-2,4(10)-diene (7.82%), and β-Pinene (5.18%), whereas in sage leaves essential oil, they were Thujone (40.53%), Eucalyptol (28.50%), and Bornanone (15.30%).
At a Clevenger temperature of 140 °C, the essential oils derived from laurel and sage leaves had the most significant antifungal activity against Penicillium citrinum, with zone diameters measuring 16.79 mm and 15.42 mm, respectively.
