Antifungal and Antibiofilm Activities of Some Essential Oils Against Candida spp

Candida species are commonly encountered strains associated with a wide range of infections. Unlike bacterial pathogens, fungal pathogens treatment is difficult and the development of resistance has been increasing at an alarming rate. In this study, the antifungal and antibiofilm effect of thyme oil, rosemary oil, mint oil, citronella oil, was tested on Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Candida kefyr, Candida glabrata, Candida parapsilosis isolated from clinical samples. The agar disc diffusion method was employed to determine the antifungal effect of the essential oils, and the inhibition of biofilm formation was assessed using microtiter biofilm inhibition assay. The results indicated that all the essential oils inhibited Candida strains and their biofilm in varying degrees. The highest antifungal activity in all isolates was observed in the thyme oil (>50mm), while rosemary oil showed the highest antibiofilm effect (>77%) in all tested strains. These findings led us to assume that the active components found in essential oils might be potential antifungal agents, adding to the repertoire of therapeutic options for the treatment of candidiasis.