title: Chemical composition and antifungal activity of Satureja hortensis L. essentiall oil against planktonic and biofilm growth of Candida albicans isolates from buccal lesions of HIV(+) individuals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oral candidiasis is an opportunistic infection of the oral cavity which usually occurs in the immunocompromised individuals. Candida albicans (C. albicans) is the most common species of yeast responsible for oral candidiasis. This study investigated the effects of Satureja hortensis L. essentiall oil (EO) on the planktonic, biofilm formation and mature biofilms of C. albicans isolates from buccal lesions of HIV(+) individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  MTT reduction assay, broth micro-dilution method and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to determine the effect of mentioned EO on the C. albicans planktonic and biofilm forms. GC-GC/MS was used to detect the major active compounds of EO.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thymol (45.9%), gamma-terpinen (16.71%), carvacrol (12.81%) and p-cymene (9.61%) were found as the most abundant constituents. MIC values ranged from 250 to 400 μg/ml and MFC values ranged from 350 to 500 μg/ml. All C. albicans isolates formed biofilm on polystyrene plats but the quantity of biofilm mass (optical density) was different for the isolates ranging from 0.850 to 0.559 nm. The mean of biofilm formation by C. albicans isolates was reduced by 87.1 ± 3.7%, 73.6 ± 5.1%, 69.4 ± 5.3% and 67 ± 4.2% at 4800, 3200, 2400 and 1600 μg/ml, respectively. In sub-MIC concentration, SEM analysis revealed loosening of cells, deformity of three dimensional structures of biofilms and shrinkage in cell membranes of sessile cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, the substantial anti-fungal activity showed by S. hortensis L. EO suggests exploitation of this oil as potential natural anti-biofilm product to deal with the problem of buccal cavity lesion associated with C. albicans.
authors.affiliation: Mycology Research Center, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Aghil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharifzadeh
authors.affiliation: Mycology Research Center, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: Khosravi@ut.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Ali Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Khosravi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shahin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmadian
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000382:microbiology; D005562:Formazans / Q000032:analysis; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031362:Satureja / Q000737:chemistry*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D005562:Formazans; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D064209:Phytochemicals; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; C079782:MTT formazan
keywords: Biofilm; Candida albicans; HIV individuals; Satureja hortensis L. essentiall oil