Geraniol and linalool anticandidal activity, genotoxic potential and embryotoxic effect on zebrafish

Geraniol and linalool are major constituents of the essential oils of medicinal plants. Antifungal activity of geraniol and linalool were evaluated against five species. The genotoxicity of these compounds was evaluated by the cytokinesis-block micronucleus test, and the embryotoxic assays use zebrafish model. Geraniol and linalool inhibited growth, but geraniol was more effective. The geraniol at concentration of 800 μg/ml and the linalool at concentration of 125 μg/ml significantly increased chromosome damage. Geraniol was more toxic to zebrafish embryo than linalool: LC values were 31.3 and 193.3 μg/ml, respectively. Geraniol and linalool have anticandidal activity, but they also exert genotoxic and embryotoxic effects at the highest tested concentrations.