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In Vitro Antifungal Evaluation of Thymus Vulgaris Essential Oil Nanoemulsion Alone and in Combination with Fluconazole Against Candida Albicans
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MS Mohammadi1   , A Ghaffari2 , S Darabian3 , S Jafari4 , S Amanloo5 |
1- Student Research Committee, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
2- Department of Food and Drug Control, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
3- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
4- Department of Pharmacognosy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.
5- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran , s.amanloo@zums.ac.ir |
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Abstract: (1437 Views) |
Background & aim: Candida species, particularly Candida albicans, are primary agents of opportunistic fungal infections, contributing significantly to mortality rates among immunocompromised patients. In response to the global rise in antifungal resistance, this study aimed to investigate the antifungal properties and synergistic potential of Thymus vulgaris (thyme) essential oil nanoemulsion in combination with fluconazole against C. albicans.
Methods: The thyme essential oil nanoemulsion was synthesized, and its droplet size was characterized using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). The chemical profile of the oil was determined via Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) of each agent were determined using the broth microdilution method according to CLSI guidelines. The interaction between fluconazole and the essential oil/nanoemulsion was evaluated using the checkerboard technique, with results interpreted through the Fractional Inhibitory Concentration Index ($Sigma$FICI).
Results: The mean droplet size of the nanoemulsion was 43 nm. GC-MS analysis identified thymol (44.79%), p-cymene (23.35%), $gamma$-terpinene (6.55%), and linalool (4.55%) as the primary constituents. The MIC for fluconazole was 1 $mu$g/mL, while both the essential oil and its nanoemulsion yielded an MIC of 156.25 $mu$g/mL. Fluconazole demonstrated strictly fungistatic activity, as its MFC exceeded the tested concentrations. In contrast, the essential oil exhibited fungicidal effects with an MFC of 156.25 $mu$g/mL, and the nanoemulsion showed an MFC of 312.5 $mu$g/mL. The $Sigma$FICI for the combinations of fluconazole with either the oil or the nanoemulsion was 1.5, indicating an indifferent interaction.
Conclusion: Although Thymus vulgaris essential oil and its nanoemulsion demonstrated potent antifungal activity against C. albicans, nanoemulsification did not enhance the inhibitory efficacy of the oil. Furthermore, the combination of thyme-based agents with fluconazole resulted in an indifferent interaction, suggesting no synergistic benefit for this specific combination against the standard strain.
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| Keywords: Nanoemulsion, Essential oil, Thymus vulgaris, Fluconazole, Candida albicans, Antifungal activity, Synergism. |
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Full-Text [PDF 808 kb]
(50 Downloads)
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Microbiology
Received: 2025/09/24 | Accepted: 2026/02/2 | Published: 2026/02/3
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