Chenopodium oil: a new topical antifungal agent in otomycosis- [1] in vitro study

ABSTRACT

The search for new antifungal drugs for treatment of otomycosis is still continuing as there is currently no widely accepted, effective drug for eradication of otomycosis. The idea of investigating the antifungal effect of chenopodium oil was based on the observation that the plant extract was successfully used by natives to treat oral thrush in children. The study aimed at in vitro evaluation of the effect of chenopodium oil on the most common fungi causing otomycosis. Seventy patients [82 ears] with otomycosis were subjected to mycological study. The most commonly isolated fungi were Aspergillus niger [67%], Aspergillus flavus [14.6%], Candida albicans [9.8%], Aspergillus fumigates [6.1%]. These four fungi were used in this in vitro study. The results of this study indicated that chenopodium oil has got a definite fungicidal effect on the four tested fungi. The minimal inhibitory concentration [MIC] was 0.09% for A. niger, A. flavus and A. fumigates, while it was 0.08% for C. albicans effects