Impact of Clove Essential Oil on the Intestinal Flora in Mice Infected with Candida albicans

This article investigates the antifungal activity of clove essential oil (CEO) against <i>Candida albicans</i>, as well as its inhibitory effects on <i>C. albicans</i> biofilm formation and the associated developmental processes. Furthermore, it evaluates the therapeutic efficacy of CEO in a mouse model of intestinal <i>C. albicans</i> infection and explores its impact on intestinal microbiota. Additionally, 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing was conducted to analyze the alterations in the intestinal microbiota. The findings indicate that the administration of CEO in mice infected with <i>C. albicans</i> resulted in a normalization of body weight and an improvement in their symptoms. Histological analysis utilizing HE and PAS staining demonstrated that CEO exerted beneficial effects on the intestinal mucosal status of these infected mice. Furthermore, ELISA results revealed a dose-dependent reduction in the levels of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-17A within the small intestinal tissues of <i>C. albicans</i>-infected mice. Additionally, 16S rRNA gene analysis indicated that CEO effectively enhanced the richness and diversity within the intestinal microbiota of CEO treatment groups of mice that were investigated. Overall, CEO exhibits therapeutic potential against inflammation induced by intestinal <i>C. albicans</i> infection in mice. This effect can be attributed to its anti-inflammatory properties as well as its capacity to regulate the composition of intestinal flora.