Potential fungistatic and fungicidal activity of essential oils in dermatomycosis

Objectives: The aimed to evaluate the fungistatic and fungicidal activity ofessential oils (EOs), against fungi that cause dermatomycosis. Design: The study design was experimental, with in vitro tests, with a control group and treatments. Setting: Fungal species Trichophyton rubrum ATCC MYA 4438, T. mentagrophytes var. interdigitale ATCC MYA 4439, Candida albicans ATCC 14053, and C. parapsilosis ATCC 22019, in addition to clinical samples of Fusarium spp., Scytalidium spp., and T. mentagrophytes were used in this study. Interventions: EOS of the Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), Cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia), and Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) were used separately in the experimental group, and fluconazole and terbinafine were used as controls. Main outcome measures: The antifungal activity of EOs was evaluated by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC). Results: Cinnamon performed best, with an MIC and MFC of 62.5–125 μg/mL against the T. mentagrophytes ATCC and clinical samples, and a MIC and MFC of 15.62–31.25 μg/mL against T. rubrum ATCC.The most promising result was against Fusarium spp., which are resistant to most antifungal agents, with an MIC and MFC of 62.5–125 μg/mL. Lavender and Tea tree showed fungicidal effects against yeasts, with an MIC and MFC of 2,000–4,000 μg/mL, whereas they showed only fungistatic effects against T. rubrum ATCC. Conclusions: Cinnamon showed a fungicidal effect against all evaluated microorganisms, and was more efficient than the other EOs tested.