Chemical constituents of Mentha piperita and Pongamia pinnata essential oils and their synergistic anticandidal activity with some antibiotics against multidrug resistant clinical isolates of Candida

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the present work was to evaluate anticandidal activity of Mentha piperita and Pongamia pinnata essential oils and synergistic anticandidal activity of these essential oils with some commonly used commercial antibiotics like Amphotericine B, Nystatin, Fluconazole, Ketoconazole, Clotrimazole and Itraconazole against multidrug resistant clinical isolates of Candida. Method: The synergistic effect of antifungal activity was evaluated against clinical isolates by disc diffusion assay. Results: The synergistic activity of the antibiotics with Piper mentha essential oil was better than with that of Pongamia pinnata essential oil. Piper mentha essential oil increased the anti-candidal effect of azole antibiotics Fluconazole and Ketoconazole, while it had less synergistic effect on Clotrimazole and Itraconazole. Conclusion: The essential oil of Piper mentha essential oil in combination with antibiotics could be used as an interesting and alternative source of anticandidal agent against Candida species.