Abstract
The promising antimicrobial activity of essential oils (EOs) has led researchers to use them in combination with antimicrobial drugs in order to reduce drug toxicity, side effects, and resistance to single agents. Mentha x piperita, known worldwide as “Mentha of Pancalieri”, is produced locally at Pancalieri (Turin, Italy). The EO from this Mentha species is considered as one of the best mint EOs in the world. In our research, we assessed the antifungal activity of “Mentha of Pancalieri” EO, either alone or in combination with azole drugs (fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole) against a wide panel of yeast and dermatophyte clinical isolates. The EO was analyzed by GC-MS, and its antifungal properties were evaluated by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) parameters, in accordance with the CLSI guidelines, with some modifications. The interaction of EO with azoles was evaluated through the chequerboard and isobologram methods. The results suggest that this EO exerts a fungicidal activity against yeasts and a fungistatic activity against dermatophytes. Interaction studies with azoles indicated mainly synergistic profiles between itraconazole and EO vs. Candida spp., Cryptococcus neoformans, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Thus, the “Mentha of Pancalieri” EO may act as a potential antifungal agent and could serve as a natural adjuvant for fungal infection treatment.
Highlights
With the wide use of synthetic and semi-synthetic antimicrobial drugs, their advantages and disadvantages have been highlighted over the years, including the spread of drug-resistant pathogens, and research has focused on the use of natural products as useful antimicrobial tools [1]
The phytochemical composition of the “Mentha of Pancalieri” essential oils (EOs) was confirmed to be rich in oxygenated monoterpenes, in accordance with data from the European Pharmacopoeia 8th Ed. (Table 1)
FLC S ≤ 0.125 μg/mL and R ≥ 4 μg/mL (C. albicans), FLC R ≥ 64 μg/mL C. glabrata); C. krusei is basically resistant to profiles confirmed synergistic associations between ITZ and the “Mentha of Pancalieri” EO
Summary
With the wide use of synthetic and semi-synthetic antimicrobial drugs, their advantages and disadvantages have been highlighted over the years, including the spread of drug-resistant pathogens, and research has focused on the use of natural products as useful antimicrobial tools [1]. The promising antimicrobial activity of EOs has led researchers to use them in association with antimicrobial drugs in order to reduce toxicity, side effects, and microbial resistance. In herbal medicine, it is used in the form of the green plant that is dried for conservation or the EO obtained from steam current distillation of the whole plant (not shredded) [11]. Due to the continuous increase in fungal infections and the development of azole-resistant fungal strains, in our research, we assessed the antifungal activity of “Mentha of Pancalieri” EO against a wide panel of yeast and dermatophyte clinical isolates. The anti-dermatophytic activity of the main components of the EO (menthol and menthone) and their interaction with azoles were assessed
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