Comparison the Inhibitory Effects Of Essential Oil of Thymus eriocalyx and Thymus kotschyanus with Nystatin on Candida Albicans Growth - In Vitro Study

Viewing to the increased incidence of candidiasis, the bitter taste of nystatin, and the need for its repeated administration, the role of medicinal plants as well as global trends in herbal medicine, the present study was performed to compare the inhibitory effect of Thymus eriocalyx and Thymus kotschyanus with nystatin on the growth of Candida albicans.
In this in vitro study the minimum inhibitory and fungicidal concentration of essential oils of Thymus eriocalyx and Thymus kotschyanus on the growth of Candida albicansans was determined and then the diameter of growth inhibition of the two plants adjacent minimum inhibitory and fungicidal concentration were compared with inhibition zone of nystatin. Data was analysed by SPSS using one-way ANOVA at the significance level of 0.05.
In this study the minimum inhibitory concentration of plant Thymus eriocalyx and Thymus kotschyanus was 4.2 μl/ml and 3.3 μl/ml respectively and minimum fungicidal concentrations of these two plants, was 4.2μl/ ml and 4 μl/ ml, respectively. The diameter of growth inhibition zone of Thymus eriocalyx in MIC and MFC was 19.5 mm and 18.95 mm; respectively. These diameters were 18.4 mm and 21.05 mm for Thymus kotschyanus in MIC and MFC; respectively. The results of statistical analysis showed no significant difference between the diameter of growth inhibition zone of essential oils and nystatin (P>0.05).
Based on the results of present study, the essential oil of Thymus eriocalyx and Thymus kotschyanus have appropriate inhibitory effects on the growth of the Candida albicans. The inhibitory effect of these essential oils is comparable with nystatin.