Antifungal Activity and Type of Interaction of Melissa officinalis Essential Oil with Antimycotics against Biofilms of Multidrug-Resistant Candida Isolates from Vulvovaginal Mucosa

(1) Background: Vulvovaginal candidosis (VVC) is a major therapy issue due to its high resistance rate and virulence factors such as the ability to form biofilms. The possibility of combining commonly used antifungals with natural products might greatly improve therapeutic success. (2) Methods: A total of 49 vulvovaginal isolates, causative agents of recurrent VVC, were tested for their susceptibility to fluconazole, nystatin, and Melissa officinalis essential oil (MOEO). This examination included testing the antibiofilm potential of antifungals and MOEO and the determination of their types of interaction with mature biofilms. (3) Results: Antimicrobial testing showed that 94.4% of the Candida albicans isolates and all the Candida krusei isolates were resistant to fluconazole, while all strains showed resistance to nystatin. The same strains were susceptible to MOEO in 0.156-2.5 mg/mL concentrations. Additionally, the results revealed very limited action of fluconazole, while nystatin and MOEO reduced the amount of biofilm formed by as much as 17.7% and 4.6%, respectively. Testing of the combined effect showed strain-specific synergistic action. Furthermore, the lower concentrations exhibited antagonistic effects even in cases where synergism was detected. (4) Conclusions: This study showed that MOEO had a very good antibiofilm effect. However, combining MOEO with antimycotics demonstrated that the type of action depended on the choice of antifungal drugs as well as the applied concentration.

Automated summary

This study found that Melissa officinalis essential oil (MOEO) has a good antibiofilm effect on candida biofilms. However, the combined effect of MOEO with antifungal drugs depends on the choice of drugs and their concentrations.