Cited by 359Essential Oils and Antimicrobial ActivityAntifungal resistance and susceptibilityAntimicrobial agents and applications

Antifungal activity of Thymus oils and their major compounds

Pina‐Vaz, C, Gonçalves Rodrigues, A, Pinto, E, Costa‐de‐Oliveira, S, Tavares, C, Salgueiro, L, Cavaleiro, C, Gonçalves, MJ +1 more·2004·Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology

Abstract

The increasing recognition and importance of fungal infections, the difficulties encountered in their treatment and the increase in resistance to antifungals have stimulated the search for therapeutic alternatives. Essential oils have been used empirically. The essential oils of Thymus (Thymus vulgaris, T. zygis subspecies zygis and T. mastichina subspecies mastichina) have often been used in folk medicine. The aim of the present study was to evaluate objectively the antifungal activity of Thymus oils according to classical bacteriological methodologies - determination of the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimal lethal concentration (MLC) - as well as flow cytometric evaluation. The effect of essential oils upon germ tube formation, an important virulence factor, was also studied. The mechanism of action was studied by flow cytometry, after staining with propidium iodide. The chemical composition of the essential oils was investigated by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS). The antifungal activity of the major components (carvacrol, thymol, p-cymene and 1,8-cineole) and also possible interactions between them were also investigated. The essential oils of T. vulgaris and T. zygis showed similar antifungal activity, which was greater than T. mastichina. MIC and MLC values were similar for all the compounds tested. At MIC values of the essential oils, propidium iodide rapidly penetrated the majority of the yeast cells, indicating that the fungicidal effect resulted primarily from an extensive lesion of the cell membrane. Concentrations below the MIC values significantly inhibited germ tube formation. This study describes the potent antifungal activity of the essential oils of Thymus on Candida spp., warranting future therapeutical trials on mucocutaneous candidosis.

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2004.00886.x

Cites

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  • Monoterpenes and phenols present in thyme, sage and rosemary essential oils possess noticeable antimicrobial, antifungal and antiviral activity.

    “The monoterpenes and phenols present in thyme, sage and rosemary EOs possess noticeable antimicrobial, antifungal and antiviral activity [55,56,57].”

    From Effect of essential oils on pathogenic bacteria (2013) · cites this paper as [55]

Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 8

  1. 10.1002/1098-0997(2000)8:3/4<124::aid-idog6>3.0.co;2-g · DOI
  2. Wild R, 1994, The Complete Book of Natural and Medical Cures
  3. Thomson WAR, 1978, Medicines from the Earth
  4. Duke JA, 1985, Handbook of Medical Herbs
  5. Pina‐Vaz C, 2002, Antifungal activity of the ‘p‐cymene’ on Candida species, Clin Microbiol Infect, 8, 283
  6. Pina‐Vaz C, 2001, Antifungal activity of the essential oil of Thymus vulgaris on Candida species, Mycoses, 44, 59
  7. 10.1016/s0305-1978(99)00088-5 · DOI
  8. National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards, 1997, Reference Method for Broth Dilution Antifungals Susceptibility Testing of Yeasts.

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Authors
Pina‐Vaz, C., Gonçalves Rodrigues, A., Pinto, E., Costa‐de‐Oliveira, S., Tavares, C., Salgueiro, L., Cavaleiro, C., Gonçalves, M., & Martinez‐de‐Oliveira, J.
Affiliations
  • Universidade do Porto (PT)
  • University of Coimbra (PT)
  • Hospital de São João (PT)
Corresponding author
Tavares, C
Venue
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2003-12-17
Volume
18
Issue
1
Pages
73-78
ISSN
  • 0926-9959 (ISSN-L)
  • 1468-3083
OpenAlex
W2001646769
Cited by
359
References
22
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 24 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 25 · 2012: 20
FWCI
11.85
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Essential Oils and Antimicrobial Activity
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Antifungal resistance and susceptibility
  • Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Organic Chemistry › Antimicrobial agents and applications
Keywords
antifungal activity, thyme, Thymus zygis, Thymus mastichina, Candida, minimum inhibitory concentration, minimal lethal concentration, germ tube formation, carvacrol, thymol, p-cymene, 1,8-cineole, cell membrane damage, mucocutaneous candidiasis, essential oil composition
MeSH terms
Antifungal Agents, Candida, Flow Cytometry, Phytotherapy, Oils, Volatile, Plants, Medicinal, Plant Structures, Lamiaceae, Plant Preparations

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