A herbal antifungal formulation of Thymus serpillum, Origanum vulgare and Rosmarinus officinalis for treating ovine dermatophytosis due to Trichophyton mentagrophytes.
A number of herbal products with anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antimycotic properties are available for dermatological usage. The successful treatment of 13 sheep affected by ringworm due to Trichophyton mentagrophytes with a mixture consisting of essential oils (EOs) of Thymus serpillum 2%, Origanum vulgare 5% and Rosmarinus officinalis 5% in sweet almond (Prunus dulcis) oil. The effectiveness of EOs and of the major components of the mixture (thymol, carvacrol, 1,8 cineole, α-pinene, p-cymene, γ-terpinene) against the fungal clinical isolate was evaluated by a microdilution test. Thirteen animals were topically administered with the mixture twice daily for 15 days. The other sheep were administered with a conventional treatment (seven animals) or left untreated (two animals). Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were 0.1% for T. serpillum, 0.5% for O. vulgare, 2.5% for I. verum and 5% for both R. officinalis and C. limon. Thymol and carvacrol showed MICs of 0.125% and 0.0625%. A clinical and aetiological cure was obtained at the end of each treatment regimen in only the treated animals. Specific antimycotic drugs licenced for food-producing sheep are not available within the European Community. The mixture tested here appeared to be a versatile tool for limiting fungal growth.
Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Linda
L
Mugnaini
Simona
S
Nardoni
Luisa
L
Pistelli
Michele
M
Leonardi
Lorella
L
Giuliotti
Maria N
MN
Benvenuti
Francesca
F
Pisseri
Francesca
F
Mancianti
D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D000081007:Cymenes; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000662:veterinary; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D031341:Origanum / Q000737:chemistry*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D027542:Rosmarinus / Q000737:chemistry*; D012756:Sheep / Q000382:microbiology; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D013943:Thymol / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D046930:Thymus Plant / Q000737:chemistry*; D014005:Tinea / Q000188:drug therapy; D014249:Trichophyton / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000081007:Cymenes; D039821:Monoterpenes; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D028321:Plant Preparations; C007210:4-cymene; D013943:Thymol; C073316:carvacrol