title: Anticandidal effect of Ocimum sanctum essential oil and its synergy with fluconazole and ketoconazole.
abstract: Holy basil, Ocimum sanctum (L.) is time-honored for its medicinal properties; however its antimicrobial characteristics are used only in 'Ayurvedic medicines'. Attention has been drawn to antifungal activity and a possible synergistic antifungal effect of Ocimum sanctum essential oil (OSEO) and established azole antimycotics-fluconazole and ketoconazole. To put forward this approach, antifungal activity has been assessed in seventy four fluconazole-sensitive and sixteen fluconazole-resistant Candida isolates. Hemolytic activity on human erythrocytes was also studied to rule out the possibility of allied additional cytotoxicity. The observed selectively fungicidal characteristics signify a promising candidature of O. sanctum essential oil as an antifungal agent in combinational treatments for candidosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Amber
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aijaz
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Immaculata
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Luqman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nikhat
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002175:Candida / Q000187:drug effects*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007654:Ketoconazole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031339:Ocimum / Q000737:chemistry*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010936:Plant Extracts; D015725:Fluconazole; D007654:Ketoconazole