Chemical composition and antifungal activities of Ziziphora tenuir and Z. clinopodioides essential oils against dermatophytes

Abstract

Summary Introduction: Ziziphora species are traditionally used for treatment of different infectious and non-infectious diseases as antiseptic agents. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition of Ziziphora clinopodioides and Z. tenuir essential oils and their antifungal effects againt five strains of dermatophytes. Methods: GC and GC-MS methods were used for essentional oils analize. The anti-elastase activities were determined by porcine pancreatic elastase assays. Results: 48 different compounds were identified in these two essential oils, which thymol, p-cymene, 1,8-cineole and γ-terpinene were their major components. The anti-dermatophyte activities of essential oils against dermatophytes showed that the essential oils (150 ppm) inhibited the mycelium growth, about 5–100%, which Z. clinopodioides essential oil had higher mycelium growth inhibition (28–100%) than that of Z. tenuir oil. The MIC and MFC values of essential oils were 0.01–1 µl/ml. 0.5 µl/ml essential oils inhibited porcine pancreatic elastase, dose-dependently. Conclusions: Due to the anti-dermatophyte and anti-elastase effects of Ziziphora sp., it can be considered as natural antifungal agent for more clinical and pre-clinical trials.