Presumptive Identification of Candida spp. from Clinical Isolates and Anticandidal Effect of Essential Oils

Abstract

Candida is normal flora of human skin, mouth, vagina, colon and causes mycosis worldwide. Candida causes oral thrush, vaginitis and other potentially life-threatening diseases. This study assesses anticandidal potential of essential oils against Candida species isolated from clinical samples obtained from Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sewagram, Wardha, Maharashtra. On the basis of morphological characterization on Sabouraud dextrose agar, CHROMagar, Germ tube test and biochemical characterization, Candida species identified as Candida albicans, Candida krusei, Candida glabrata, Candida parapsilosis. Clove, thyme, cinnamon and eucalyptus essential oils with concentrations of 6.2, 12.5, 25, 50 and 100 μg/ml were used to study their anticandidal activity. C. albicans demonstrated zone of inhibition (ZOI) 29, 20, 32, 29 mm, Candida krusei 25, 25, 30, 21 mm, Candida glabrata 24, 22, 31, 32mm,Candida parapsilosis 33,31,33, 29mm towards clove, thyme, cinnamon and eucalyptus oil (each at 100 μg/ml) respectively which are highest ZOI as compared with antifungal agent Amphotericin-B, which showed 16, 13, 12, 8 mm against C. albicans, C. krusei, C.glabrata and C. parapsilosis respectively. All Candida spp. produced biofilms and enzyme lipase. This study will facilitate the development of novel broad-spectrum key molecules against a range of Candida species.