Activity of cinnamaldehyde, carvacrol and thymol combined with antifungal agents against Fusarium spp

Fusarium spp. are able to cause a wide range of opportunistic infections in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals. Thus, new therapeutic options should be considered. We evaluated the antifungal activity of three phytocompounds (cinnamaldehyde, CIN; carvacrol, CRV; and thymol, THY), as well as their activities when combined with amphotericin B (AMB), caspofungin (CAS), itraconazole (ITC) and voriconazole (VRC) against 20 clinical isolates of Fusarium. Broth microdilution (M38-A2) and checkerboard methodologies were used to obtain MICs (Minimum inhibitory concentration) and FICIs (Fractional Inhibitory Concentration Index), respectively. The MICs observed for the phytocompounds were: 20-80 for CIN, 40-> 320 for CRV and 40-320 mu g/mL for THY. The most effective combinations (synergism rates) were: THY + CAS (96%), CRV + CAS (88%), THY + AMB (76%), CRV + AMB (68%), THY + VRC (68%) and CRV + VRC (60%). Our findings suggest that CRV and THY have potent activity when combined with CAS, AMB or VRC.

Automated summary

Fusarium spp. can cause a wide range of opportunistic infections, and new therapeutic options should be considered. The study found that carvacrol and thymol have potent antifungal activity when combined with caspofungin, amphotericin B, or voriconazole.