title: Essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia for the treatment of oral candidiasis induced in an immunosuppressed mouse model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The search for alternative therapies for oral candidiasis is a necessity and the use of medicinal plants seems to be one of the promising solutions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo effects of the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia on Candida albicans.
  
  
  METHODS
  The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) of M. alternifolia were determined by the broth microdilution assay. For the in vivo study, twelve immunosuppressed mice with buccal candidiasis received topical applications of M. alternifolia with MBEC. After treatment, yeasts were recovered from the mice and quantified (CFU/mL). Mice were killed for morphologic analysis of the tongue dorsum by optical and scanning electron microscopy. Data were analyzed using Student's t test or Mann-Whitney test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MIC of M. alternifolia was 0.195% and the MBEC was 12.5%. Treatment with M. alternifolia achieved a 5.33 log reduction in C. albicans and reduced the microscopic lesions of candidiasis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  M. alternifolia oil at a 12.5% was effective to eradicate a C. albicans biofilm formed in vitro and to reduce yeasts of C. albicans in an immunosuppressed mouse model.
authors.forename: Vanessa Maria
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: de Campos Rasteiro
authors.forename: Anna Carolina Borges Pereira
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: da Costa
authors.forename: Cássia Fernandes
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.forename: Patrícia Pimentel
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: de Barros
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Institute of Science and Technology, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Francisco José Longo 777, São Dimas, São José dos Campos CEP: 12245-000,SP, Brazil. dennisrossoni@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Rodnei Dennis
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Rossoni
authors.forename: Ana Lia
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Anbinder
authors.forename: Antonio Olavo Cardoso
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Jorge
authors.forename: Juliana Campos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Junqueira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects*; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D031650:Melaleuca / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015003:Yeasts / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010936:Plant Extracts