title: [Anti-Candida albicans activity of essential oils including Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) oil and its component, citral].
abstract: The effects of 12 essential oils, popularly used as antifungal treatments in aromatherapy, on growth of Candida albicans were investigated. Mycelial growth of C. albicans, which is known to give the fungus the capacity to invade mucosal tissues, was inhibited in the medium containing 100 micro g/ml of the oils: lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), patchouli (Pogostemon cablin) and cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica). Not only lemongrass oil but also citral, a major component of lemongrass oil (80%), in the range of 25 and 200 micro g/ml inhibited the mycelial growth but allowed yeast-form growth. More than 200 micro g/ml of citral clearly inhibited both mycelial and yeast-form growth of C. albicans. These results provide experimental evidence suggesting the potential value of lemongrass oil for the treatment of oral or vaginal candidiasis.
authors: Teikyo University Institute of Medical Mycology, 359 Otsuka, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0395, Japan.
authors: Shigeru
authors: S
authors: Abe
authors: Yuichi
authors: Y
authors: Sato
authors: Shigeharu
authors: S
authors: Inoue
authors: Hiroko
authors: H
authors: Ishibashi
authors: Naho
authors: N
authors: Maruyama
authors: Toshio
authors: T
authors: Takizawa
authors: Haruyuki
authors: H
authors: Oshima
authors: Hideyo
authors: H
authors: Yamaguchi
mesh_terms: D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects*; D031743:Cymbopogon; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D009822:Oils, Volatile; D028321:Plant Preparations