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Planta Med 2015; 81(14): 1277-1284
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1546272
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Original Papers
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Antifungal Effect of Essential Oils against Fusarium Keratitis Isolates

Mónika Homa
1   University of Szeged, Faculty of Science and Informatics, Department of Microbiology, Szeged, Hungary
,
Ildikó Pálma Fekete
1   University of Szeged, Faculty of Science and Informatics, Department of Microbiology, Szeged, Hungary
,
Andrea Böszörményi
2   Institute of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
,
Yendrembam Randhir Babu Singh
3   Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Department of Microbiology, Imphal, Manipur, India
,
Kanesan Panneer Selvam
4   M. R. Government Arts College, Department of Microbiology, Mannargudi, Thiruvarur District, Tamilnadu, India
,
Coimbatore Subramanian Shobana
5   Department of Microbiology, PSG College of Arts & Science, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India
,
Palanisamy Manikandan
6   Aravind Eye Hospital and Postgraduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Department of Microbiology, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India
7   College of Applied Medical Sciences, Majmaah University, Majmaah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
,
László Kredics
1   University of Szeged, Faculty of Science and Informatics, Department of Microbiology, Szeged, Hungary
,
Csaba Vágvölgyi
1   University of Szeged, Faculty of Science and Informatics, Department of Microbiology, Szeged, Hungary
8   Botany and Microbiology Department, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
,
László Galgóczy
1   University of Szeged, Faculty of Science and Informatics, Department of Microbiology, Szeged, Hungary
9   Innsbruck Medical University, Biocenter, Division of Molecular Biology, Innsbruck, Austria
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 03 March 2015
revised 30 April 2015

accepted 09 June 2015

Publication Date:
30 July 2015 (online)

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Abstract

The present study was carried out to investigate the antifungal effects of Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Citrus limon, Juniperus communis, Eucalyptus citriodora, Gaultheria procumbens, Melaleuca alternifolia, Origanum majorana, Salvia sclarea, and Thymus vulgaris essential oils against Fusarium species, the most common etiologic agents of filamentous fungal keratitis in South India. C. zeylanicum essential oil showed strong anti-Fusarium activity, whereas all the other tested essential oils proved to be less effective. The main component of C. zeylanicum essential oil, trans-cinnamaldehyde, was also tested and showed a similar effect as the oil. The in vitro interaction between trans-cinnamaldehyde and natamycin, the first-line therapeutic agent of Fusarium keratitis, was also investigated; an enhanced fungal growth inhibition was observed when these agents were applied in combination. Light and fluorescent microscopic observations revealed that C. zeylanicum essential oil/trans-cinnamaldehyde reduces the cellular metabolism and inhibits the conidia germination. Furthermore, necrotic events were significantly more frequent in the presence of these two compounds. According to our results, C. zeylanicum essential oil/trans-cinnamaldehyde provides a promising basis to develop a novel strategy for the treatment of Fusarium keratitis.

Key words

Cinnamomum zeylanicum - Lauraceae - Fusarium keratitis - antifungal effect - essential oils - trans-cinnamaldehyde

Supporting Information

 

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