Antifungal Activity of the Essential Oil of Thymus x viciosoi against Candida, Cryptococcus, Aspergillus and Dermatophyte Species

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2010

Authors

Luis Andre Vale Silva (Author) Other; Maria Jose Goncalves (Author) Other; Carlos Cavaleiro (Author) Other; Ligia Salgueiro (Author) Other; Eugenia Pinto (Author) FFUP

Journal

Title: Planta Medica

Vol. 76 No. 9

Pages: 882-888

ISSN: 0032-0943

Publisher: Thieme

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 36 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 44 Citations

Pubmed / Medline

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Basic medicine

CORDIS: Health sciences > Pharmacological sciences > Pharmacy

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-003-6GF

DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1240799

Resumo (PT): The essential oil (EO) of Thymus x viciosoi (Pau) R. Morales was isolated and analysed by GC and GC‐MS. The antifungal activity of the EO and its major components against clinically relevant yeasts and molds was then measured. Their influence on the germ tube formation in Candida albicans and the influence of the EO on the metabolic function and cytoplasmic membrane integrity in the same yeast, analyzed by flow cytometry, were also studied. The EO showed high contents of carvacrol, thymol, and p-cymene. The total EO, as well as its components carvacrol and thymol, displayed very low minimum inhibitory concentrations and minimum fungicidal concentrations against all tested organisms (0.04 to 0.64 µL · mL−1), while p-cymene showed weaker activity (2.5 to > 20.0 µL · mL−1). They also inhibited filamentation at sub-inhibitory concentrations in C. albicans, particularly p-cymene, and the EO led to rapid metabolic arrest, disruption of the plasma membrane and consequently cell death. The EO and its main components were found to display a broad fungicidal activity through the disruption of cytoplasmic membrane integrity leading to leakage of vital intracellular compounds. In conclusion, the phenolic oil of T. x viciosoi may have potential for use in the development of clinically useful antifungal preparations. <br> <br> Key words Thymus x viciosoi (Pau) R. Morales - Lamiaceae - phenolic oil - antifungal activity - Candida albicans - flow cytometry - cytoplasmic membrane disruption <br>

Abstract (EN): The essential oil (EO) of Thymus x viciosoi (Pau) R. Morales was isolated and analysed by GC and GC-MS. The antifungal activity of the EO and its major components against clinically relevant yeasts and molds was then measured. Their influence on the germ tube formation in Candida albicans and the influence of the EO on the metabolic function and cytoplasmic membrane integrity in the same yeast, analyzed by flow cytometry, were also studied. The EO showed high contents of carvacrol, thymol, and p-cymene. The total EO, as well as its components carvacrol and thymol, displayed very low minimum inhibitory concentrations and minimum fungicidal concentrations against all tested organisms (0.04 to 0.64 mu L.mL(-1)), while p-cymene showed weaker activity (2.5 to > 20.0 mu L.mL(-1)). They also inhibited filamentation at sub-inhibitory concentrations in C. albicans, particularly p-cymene, and the EO led to rapid metabolic arrest, disruption of the plasma membrane and consequently cell death. The EO and its main components were found to display a broad fungicidal activity through the disruption of cytoplasmic membrane integrity leading to leakage of vital intracellular compounds. In conclusion, the phenolic oil of T. x viciosoi may have potential for use in the development of clinically useful antifungal preparations.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7