Effects of Mentha suaveolens Essential Oil Alone or in Combination with Other Drugs in Candida albicans.
Candidosis is the most important cause of fungal infections in humans. The yeast Candida albicans can form biofilms, and it is known that microbial biofilms play an important role in human diseases and are very difficult to treat. The prolonged treatment with drugs has often resulted in failure and resistance. Due to the emergence of multidrug resistance, alternatives to conventional antimicrobial therapy are needed. This study aims to analyse the effects induced by essential oil of Mentha suaveolens Ehrh (EOMS) on Candida albicans and its potential synergism when used in combination with conventional drugs. Morphological differences between control and EOMS treated yeast cells or biofilms were observed by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM resp.,). In order to reveal the presence of cell cycle alterations, flow cytometry analysis was carried out as well. The synergic action of EOMS was studied with the checkerboard method, and the cellular damage induced by different treatments was analysed by TEM. The results obtained have demonstrated both the effects of EOMS on C. albicans yeast cells and biofilms and the synergism of EOMS when used in combination with conventional antifungal drugs as fluconazole (FLC) and micafungin (MCFG), and therefore we can hypothesize on its potential use in therapy. Further studies are necessary to know its mechanism of action.
Department of Technology and Health, Italian National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Annarita
A
Stringaro
Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University of Rome "Sapienza", Piazzale Aldo Moro, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Elisabetta
E
Vavala
Department of Technology and Health, Italian National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Marisa
0000-0002-7522-7483
M
Colone
Department of Drugs Chemistry and Technology, University of Rome "Sapienza", Piazzale Aldo Moro, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Federico
F
Pepi
Department of Biochemical Sciences "Rossi Fanelli", University of Rome "Sapienza", Italy.
Giuseppina
G
Mignogna
Department of Drugs Chemistry and Technology, University of Rome "Sapienza", Piazzale Aldo Moro, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Stefania
S
Garzoli
Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Italian National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Serena
0000-0002-3601-176X
S
Cecchetti
Department of Drugs Chemistry and Technology, University of Rome "Sapienza", Piazzale Aldo Moro, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Rino
0000-0001-5399-975X
R
Ragno
Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University of Rome "Sapienza", Piazzale Aldo Moro, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Letizia
L
Angiolella