Essential oil of Mentha piperita was analyzed by GC and GC-MS and evaluated for in vitro antifungal activity against Dreschlera spicifera, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceris and Macrophomina phaseolina. Thirty-five components have been identified in the essential oil of M. piperita. The major compounds identified in the oil were menthone (30.63 %), menthol (25.16 %), menthofuran (6.47 %), β-phellandrene (5.59 %), isomenthone (4.74 %), menthol acetate (4.61 %), pulegone (4.39 %), β-caryophyllene (3.05 %), neomenthol (2.83 %), 1,8-cineole (2.15 %). The antifungal assay was determined by agar dilution method withfive concentrations of peppermint oil (up to 1600 ppm). The oil was found to be effective against these fungalpathogens under laboratory screening. The antifungal activities of the oil increased with an increase in theconcentration. Minimum effective concentrations of the oil against fungal pathogens were also different. Thefungistatic and fungicidal activity of the oil was determined. Results of fungistatic and fungicidal activitiesshowed that peppermint oil in these concentrations have no fungicide activity.

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