Działanie olejku tatarakowego (Calami aetheroleum) na grzyby drożdżopodobne

Abstract

Introduction. The rhizomes and leaves of calamus (Acorus calamus L.) contain essential oil, the composition of which varies depending on the variety. Characteristic are α- and β-azarones, other ingredients are, among others: acorin, spatulenol, borneol, isoazarone, caryophyllene, geranyl acetate, isoeugenol, eugenol, linalool, camphor and cineol. Extracts and essential oil have antimicrobial properties. Aim. Determination of sensitivity to calamus oil (Semifarm) of yeast-like fungi isolated from the oral cavity and estimation of the chemical composition of the oil. Material and methods. Strains of yeast-like fungi isolated from the oral cavity belonged to the species: Candida albicans (7 strains), C. glabrata (6), C. guilliermondii (1), C. krusei (4), C. lusitaniae (1), C. parapsilosis (4), C. tropicalis (3), C. utilis (1), Geotrichum candidum (1), Rhodotorula rubra (2) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (1). 8 reference strains were also included in the experiments. The susceptibility of fungi determined by the plate dilution method in Sabouraud agar. Concentration of the oil (Semifarm) were: 4.0, 2.0, 1.0, 0.5, 0.25 i 0.12 mg/ml. The inoculum, which contained 105 CFU/drop, was applied by a Steers apparatus to the medium with appropriate concentration of the oil or without of the oil (strain growth control). The incubation carried out at 37°C for 24-48 hrs in aerobic conditions. The MICs determined as the lowest concentration of oil inhibiting the growth of yeastlike fungi on the agar. The compositon of the tested oil was determined using the GC-MS method. Results. The results showed, that all tested strains of yeastlike fungi were susceptible to calamus oil in concentrations 0.5-≤ 0.12 mg/ml. The strains from genus of Candida albicans in 57% were susceptible to low concentrations the oil in ranges ≤ 0.12-0.25 mg/ml. The fungi from genus C. glabrata, C. krusei and C. tropicalis were less sensitive (MIC ≤ 0.12-0.5 mg/ml). The oil showed the lowest activity (MIC = 0.5 mg/ml) against strains of the species C. guilliermondii, C. lusitaniae and C. utilis. The tested oil contains 66 chemical compounds. Conclusions. The yeast-like fungus strains of the genus Candida were highly sensitive to calamus oil. The oil showed the lowest activity against strains of C. guilliermondii, C. lusitaniae and C. utilis. The strains of the species Rhodotorula rubra and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were characterized by high sensitivity to calamus oil. The GC-MS study showed that α-asarone was dominant in the oil.