Anticandida and Immunomodulatory Effects of Foeniculum Vulgare Mill in Vitro

Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel) is a herbal preparation used in Traditional Medicine. In the ancient medicine in Iran, it was used as additive, carminative, antiseptic and antiparasite. The aim of this study was to investigate anti candida activity and immunomodulatory effects of water, ethanol and acetone extracts from Foeniculum vulgare on murine peritoneal macrophages in vitro.

Anti-Candida albicans effect of the essential oils, Amphotericin B and ketoconazole were determined by Disc diffusion and broth Macrodilution methods. The viability of macrophages was evaluated using MTT assay. Also the production of nitrite was probed using Griess method. Moreover, the ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) production and Fungicidal activity were investigated by NBT assay and Killing method, respectively. Received: 8 Mar. 2009 Last revised: 26 May 2009 Accepted: 7 Sep. 2009

The anti-candida activity of the essential oils were strong. MIC and MFC of essential oil s were 300 µg /ml and 308 µg /ml, respectively. Among the extracts tested, the acetone extract of F. vulgare (F.v-A) revealed a significant increase in NO production (p<0.02). Furthermore, F.v-A had a significant effect on the levels of ROS (p< 0.001) and a strong fungicidal activity in F.v-A treated macrophages.

The results indicate that the essential oils of F. vulgare have strong activity against C. albicans. The F.v-A extract shows a reasonable immunomodulatory effect, while using NO assay, NBT assay and killing, on C.albican. More studies on animal models and humans are needed to clarify the exact immunomodulatory effect of F.v-A and to determine its effective components on candidiasis.