Thymus vulgaris L (thyme) essential oil and its combination with EDTA against Candida albicans; formulation of a cream

Introduction: Candida albicans may cause severe invasive infections and frequently superficial lesions. Drugs used in treatment present drawbacks and search of alternatives becomes necessary. Objectives: To determine the activity of Thymus vulgaris essential oil (EO) alone and combined with EDTA on...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Rojas Armas, Juan, Ortiz Sánchez, José, Jáuregui Maldonado, José, Ruiz Quiroz, Julio, Almonacid Román, Robert
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2015
País:Perú
Institución:Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos
Repositorio:Revistas - Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos
Idioma:español
OAI Identifier:oai:revistasinvestigacion.unmsm.edu.pe:article/11230
Acceso en línea:https://revistasinvestigacion.unmsm.edu.pe/index.php/anales/article/view/11230
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Thymus
Thyme
Candida albicans
EDTA
Cream
Rabbits.
tomillo
crema
conejos.
Descripción
Sumario:Introduction: Candida albicans may cause severe invasive infections and frequently superficial lesions. Drugs used in treatment present drawbacks and search of alternatives becomes necessary. Objectives: To determine the activity of Thymus vulgaris essential oil (EO) alone and combined with EDTA on Candida albicans, and formulate a cream with EO supplemented with natural terpenes. Design:In vitro experimental and in vivo toxicity study. Setting: Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru. Biological material:Candida albicans strain for in vitro study and rabbits for dermal toxicity tests. Methods:Antifungal activity was determined by agar well diffusion method, and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) by broth microdilution method. A cream was formulated with EO 1% and another supplemented with carvacrol, thymol, citral and EDTA. Dermal toxicity in rabbits was determined. Main outcome measures: Inhibition halos, MIC, signs of toxicity. Results: EO at 100 mg/mL inhibited Candida albicans growth with 30.33 ± 0.58 mm inhibition halos; adding EDTA produced 35.33 ± 0.58 mm halos. MIC for EO and EO + EDTA was respectively 8 mg/mL and 0.5 mg/mL. EO 1% cream originated 13.33 ± 0.58 mm inhibition halos, and addition of EDTA, thymol, carvacrol and citral increased halos to 24.33 ± 0.58 mm. No signs of dermal toxicity in rabbits were observed. Conclusions:Thymus vulgaris EO showed inhibitory activity against Candida albicans and EDTA increased this activity; essential oil, EDTA, carvacrol, thymol and citral formulated in cream also showed synergistic effect without evidence of dermal toxicity.