Anti-Candida albicans activity of some Iranian plants used in traditional medicine

Objective. - To screen anti-Candida albicans activity of the essential oils of 16 Iranian medicinal plants. Materials and methods. - Anti-C. albicans effect of plant oils, amphotericin B, nystatin and ketoconazole were determined by disc diffusion and broth macrodilution methods. Results. - Fourteen (87%) out of the 16 plants were found to be active. These oils confirmed the existence of a significant activity against C. albicans tested with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 150 to 2300 mu g/ml using broth macrodilution method and the growth inhibition zone ranging from 16 to 55 mm using disc diffusion method. The essential oils of Zataria multiflora, Thymus kotschyanus, Cuminum cyminum and Plargonium graveolens showed significant activity against C. albicans (P < 0.05). Conclusion. - The oils that showed strong anti-Candida activity are worth of further investigations in order to identify the active compounds and their clinical applications for the treatment of candidiasis. (C) 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.