The anti-candidal activity of Pelargonium graveolens essential oils against clinical isolates of Candida albicans

Objectives: Candida albicans as important opportunistic dimorphic fungi can cause the life threatening infections in humans. In this study, we evaluated the anticandidal activities of six samples of Pelargonium graveolens essential oils against 31 clinical isolates of C.albicans. Materials and methods: The anti-candidal activity was performed by disc diffusion and micro-broth dilution assays. The chemical compositions of essential oils were analyzed by Gas Chromatography (GC) apparatus. Results: P. graveolens essential oil samples with citronellol (7.7-43.7%) and geraniol (19.3-48.5%) showed the same anti-candidal activity in two different methods. There is no significant difference between the inhibition zone diameters (19.3-24.1 mm), and the MIC and MFC values (1.06-1.48 and 1.5-1.72 µl/ml) of essential oil samples with different percent of citronellol and geraniol. Conclusion: Therefore, P.graveolens essential oils can be used as anti-candidal agent for further studies.

Objetivos: Candida albicans es un importante hongo dimórfico oportunista que puede llegar a amenazar la vida de pacientes con inmunosupresión. En este estudio se evaluaron las actividades anti-Candida de seis muestras de aceites esenciales de Pelargonium graveolens contra 31 aislamientos clínicos de C. albicans. Materiales y métodos: La actividad anti-Candida se realizó por difusión en disco y ensayos de dilución micro-caldo. La composición química de los aceites esenciales se analizó mediante cromatografía de gases. Resultados: Las muestras de aceite esencial de P. graveolens con citronelol (7,7 a 43,7%) y geraniol (19,3 a 48,5%) mostraron la actividad anti-Candida en dos métodos diferentes. No hubo ninguna diferencia significativa entre los diámetros de la zona de inhibición (19,3-24,1 mm), y valores de MFC (1,06 a 1,48 y de 1,5 a 1,72 l / ml) de muestras de aceites esenciales con diferentes porcentajes de citronelol y geraniol. Conclusión: Los aceites esenciales de P.graveolens se pueden utilizar como agentes anti-Candida para estudios adicionales.

The chemical composition, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities of Pycnocycla spinosa and Pycnocyla flabellifolia essential oils.

The purpose of our study was to compare the chemical compositions and antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Pycnocycla spinosa and Pycnocycla flabellifolia essential oils. cis-Asarone (62.5%) and widdra-2,4(14)-diene (9%) were the main components of P. spinosa aerial part essential oil, while elemicin (60.1%) and caryophyllene oxide (9.8%) were the main components of P. spinosa seed essential oil. α-Phellandrene (25.5%), p-cymene (15.3%), and limonene (13.3%) were found in P. flabellifolia essential oil. The inhibition zone diameters for P. flabellifolia essential oil were significantly higher than for the two other essential oils from P. spinosa (p<0.05). In broth dilution assay (µL/mL), the sensitive microorganism to Pycnocycla sp. (P. spinosa, P. flabellifolia) was Aspergillus niger, followed by Candida albicans. In 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) system, P. spinosa aerial parts essential oil (IC50=548 µg/mL) had higher antioxidant activity than that of two other essential oils.