Synergistic Anti-Dermatophytic Potential of Nanoparticles and Essential Oils Combinations

Abstract Conventional antifungal therapies becoming less effective in treating dermatophytic infections. For this reason, researchers are looking for alternative treatments. The current research has tested the antifungal efficacy of eight novel synthesized metallic nanoparticle compounds: Ag 0.49 Cr 2.51 O 4 , Ag 0.99 Fe 1.01 O 3 , CoLa 0.019 Fe 1.981 O 4 , Co 0.99 Fe 1.99 O 4 , Ag 0.99 Cr 1.01 O 2 , Ca 0.99 Fe 1.99 O 4 , CoBi 0.019 Fe 1.981 O 4 , and Cu 0.99 Fe 1.99 O 4 were synthesized by a flash auto-combustion reaction to evaluate synergistic potential of the Np’s exhibited antifungal activity in combination with Cinnamon, clove, lemongrass, tea tree and thyme essential oils extracted by soxhlet method against Microsporum canis , Trichophyton tonsurans , T. violaceum , T. verrucosum , and Epidermophyton floccosum . Four nanoparticle compounds exhibited antifungal activity which were: Ag 0.49 Cr 2.51 O 4 , Ag 0.99 Fe 1.01 O 3 , CoLa 0.019 Fe 1.981 O 4 , and Co 0.99 Fe 1.99 O 4 against all tested dermatophytes. Maximum inhibition was recorded in the cases of Ag 0.99 Fe 1.01 O 3 , Ag 0.99 Fe 1.01 O 3 + cinnamon against M.canis . Least minimum inhibitory concentrations were attained by Cinnamon against M. canis , Ag 0.99 Fe 1.01 O 3 against M.canis , T. tonsurans , and T.violaceum , Ag 0.99 Fe 1.01 O 3 +Cinnamon against M. canis , T. violaceum and, T. verrucosum , Ag 0.99 Fe 1.01 O 3 + Clove, and Ag 0.99 Fe 1.01 O 3 + Lemongrass against M. canis . The study showed promising results regarding the synergistic antifungal efficacy of nanoparticle compounds combined with essential oils in the cases of Ag 0.99 Fe 1.01 O 3 with cinnamon, Ag 0.99 Fe 1.01 O 3 with clove and Ag 0.99 Fe 1.01 O 3 with lemon grass against all tested dermatophytes.