Antifungal activity ofLavandula angustifoliaessential oil againstCandida albicansyeast and mycelial form

Abstract

The antifungal activity of the essential oil of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. (lavender oil) and its main components, linalool and linalyl acetate, was investigated against 50 clinical isolates of Candida albicans (28 oropharyngeal strains, 22 vaginal strains) and C. albicans ATCC 3153. Growth inhibition, killing time and inhibition of germ tube formation were evaluated. The chemical composition of the essential oil was determined by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Lavender oil inhibited C. albicans growth: mean minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.69% (vol./vol.) (vaginal strains) and 1.04% (oropharyngeal strains); mean MFC of 1.1% (vaginal strains) and 1.8% (oropharyngeal strains). Linalool was more effective than essential oil: mean MIC of 0.09% (vaginal strains) and 0.29% (oropharyngeal strains); mean MFC of 0.1% (vaginal strains) and 0.3% (oropharyngeal strains). Linalyl acetate was almost ineffective. Lavender oil (2%) killed 100% of the C. albicans ATCC 3153 cells within 15 min; linalool (0.5%) killed 100% of the cells within 30 s. The essential oil inhibited germ tube formation (mean MIC of 0.09%), as did the main components (MIC of 0.11% for linalool and 0.08% for linalyl acetate). Both the essential oil and its main components inhibited hyphal elongation of C. albicans ATCC 3153 (about 50% inhibition at 0.016% with each substance). Lavender oil shows both fungistatic and fungicidal activity against C. albicans strains. At lower concentrations, it inhibits germ tube formation and hyphal elongation, indicating that it is effective against C. albicans dimorphism and may thus reduce fungal progression and the spread of infection in host tissues.

Lamiaceae Peppermint Oil with Surfactant Showing Equal Antifungal Activity against <i>Candida albicans</i> to Rosemary Chemotype CINEOL

“…Linalool and linalyl acetate are the main components of lavender and clary sage [17]- [19]. According to previous studies by time-kill assay, these components decreased the number of viable cells of C. albicans [20] [21]. Furthermore, linalool was reported to inhibit biofilm formation by C. albicans [22].…”

“…Polyoxethylene (20) Sorbitan Monooleate (Tween 80) and Polyoxyethylene (20) Sorbitan Monolaurate (Tween 20), as emulsifiers, were purchased from Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Osaka, Japan. …”

Active antifungal substances from natural sources

“…60 Linalool was more effective than essential oil, although linalyl acetate was almost ineffective. Angioni et al 61 investigated the chemical composition and antifungal activity of the essential oil from the stems/leaves and flowers of another Lavandula species growing wild in southern Sardinia, Italy, Lavandula stoechas L. ssp.…”

Effects of Antifungal Drugs on Proliferation Signals in Candida albicans

“…albicans is a dimorphic fungus which transforms from yeast to a hyphal form depending on the growth conditions. 6) AOX1, an alternative oxidase in C. albicans, seems to be related to the respiration system. 7) C. albicans has RAS1 protein, which activates factors involved in hyphal formation signaling, such as EFG1 and CPH1.…”