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. 2018 May 8;23(5):1116.
doi: 10.3390/molecules23051116.

Investigation of the Antifungal Activity and Mode of Action of Thymus vulgaris, Citrus limonum, Pelargonium graveolens, Cinnamomum cassia, Ocimum basilicum, and Eugenia caryophyllus Essential Oils

Katarzyna Gucwa  1 , Sławomir Milewski  2 , Tomasz Dymerski  3 , Piotr Szweda  4
Affiliations

Investigation of the Antifungal Activity and Mode of Action of Thymus vulgaris, Citrus limonum, Pelargonium graveolens, Cinnamomum cassia, Ocimum basilicum, and Eugenia caryophyllus Essential Oils

Katarzyna Gucwa et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

The antimicrobial activity of plant oils and extracts has been recognized for many years. In this study the activity of Thymus vulgaris, Citrus limonum, Pelargonium graveolens, Cinnamomum cassia, Ocimumbasilicum, and Eugenia caryophyllus essential oils (EOs) distributed by Pollena Aroma (Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki, Poland) was investigated against a group of 183 clinical isolates of C. albicans and 76 isolates of C. glabrata. All of the oils exhibited both fungistatic and fungicidal activity toward C. albicans and C. glabrata isolates. The highest activity was observed for cinnamon oil, with MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) values in the range 0.002⁻0.125% (v/v). The MIC values of the rest of the oils were in the range 0.005% (or less) to 2.5% (v/v). In most cases MFC (Minimum Fungicidal Concentration) values were equal to MIC or twice as high. Additionally, we examined the mode of action of selected EOs. The effect on cell wall components could not be clearly proved. Three of the tested EOs (thyme, lemon, and clove) affected cell membranes. At the same time, thyme, cinnamon, and clove oil influenced potassium ion efflux, which was not seen in the case of lemon oil. All of the tested oils demonstrated the ability to inhibit the transition of yeast to mycelium form, but the effect was the lowest in the case of cinnamon oil.

Keywords: GC × GC MS analysis; anti-Candida activity; essential oils; modes of action; synergism.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Kinetic of C. albicans ATCC 10231 growth under the influence of EOs in the following concentrations: thyme—0.04%, lemon 0.16%, geranium—0.16%, basil 0.16%.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Kinetic of C. albicans ATCC 10231 and C. glabrata DSM 11226 growth under the influence of cinnamon oil in the concentrations equal to 0.016% (v/v) (MIC) or 0.031% (v/v) (MFC).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Potassium ion efflux induced by EOs at three concentrations 1 × MIC, 2 × MIC, and 4 × MIC. Error bars indicate uncertainty of measurement.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Synergistic action of amphotericin B with cinnamon oil (upper disc 10 μg of amphotericin B alone, bottom left 10 μL of cinnamon oil alone diluted 10 times with DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide), bottom right AmB and EO in combination). DMSO alone does not show the inhibitory zone.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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