Antifungal Activity of the Essential Oil of Echinops kebericho Mesfin: An In Vitro Study.

ABSTRACT: Background: Echinops kebericho is an endemic medicinal plant in Ethiopia widely used in the treatment of infectious and noninfectious diseases. Essential oils are known for their antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, insecticidal, and antioxidant properties. This study evaluated the antifungal activity of essential oil from E. kebericho against four common pathogenic fungi and two standard strains.

Methods: The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation. The antifungal screening was done by agar well diffusion method. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined by broth microdilution. Minimal fungicidal concentrations (MFCs) were determined by subculturing fungal strains with no visible growth onto a Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) plate.

Results: Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans were highly sensitive while Aspergillus flavus did not show sensitivity up to 1?mg/ml of essential oil; MICs ranged from 0.083?mg/ml to 0.208?mg/ml. Concentration and fungal species showed significant dose-dependent associations (p < 0.0001) with antifungal activity. The MICs of essential oil were comparable to those of the standard drug (fluconazole) against C. glabrata and C. krusei. The lowest MFC of the essential oil was observed against Candida parapsilosis (0.145?mg/ml) while the highest MFC was against Candida krusei (0.667?mg/ml).

Conclusion: Echinops kebericho essential oil showed noteworthy antifungal activity against Cryptococcus neoformans, Candida albicans, and Candida glabrata and could be a potential candidate for further antifungal drug development.

SUBMITTER: Beressa TB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7676924 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature