SYNERGISTIC EFFECTS OF FLUCONAZOLE AND ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS ESSENTIAL OIL AGAINST CANDIDA SPP. STRAINS

This study investigated the antifungal activity of Rosmarinus officinalis L. essential oil (EO) against selected Candida spp.strains with particular emphasis on its synergistic effect in combination with fluconazole.GC-MS analysis identified eucalyptol, camphor and borneol as the major constituents of the EO, all known for their antifungal properties.EO demonstrated significant inhibitory effects on fungal growth and adherence capacity to inert substratum, key factors in biofilm formation, virulence and pathogenicity.All tested strains exhibited resistance to fluconazole, however, the combination of rosemary EO and fluconazole showed strong synergistic effects against all Candida auris strains.These results indicate that R. officinalis EO enhances the antifungal efficiency of fluconazole.Stability assessment confirmed the chemical compatibility of the EOfluconazole mixture under different storage conditions.The findings support the potential use of rosemary EO as an effective adjuvant in antifungal therapy, especially against multidrug-resistant Candida strains. RezumatStudiul a investigat activitatea antifungic a uleiului esenial (UE) de rozmarin (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) asupra unor tulpini de Candida sp., precum si evidenierea efectului sinergic n combinaie cu fluconazolul.Analiza GC-MS a artat c principalele componente ale UE au fost eucaliptolul, camforul i borneolul, cunoscute pentru efectele antifungice.UE a demonstrat efecte inhibitorii semnificative asupra creterii fungice i a capacitii de aderena la substratul inert, factori eseniali n formarea de biofilme, virulen i patogenitate.Tulpinile testate au prezentat rezisten la fluconazol, n timp ce combinatia UE de rozmarin -fluconazol a demonstrat efecte sinergice, demonstrate prin valoarea FICI<0,5 n cazul tulpinilor de Candida auris.Aceste rezultate demonstreaz c UE de rozmarin poteneaz eficiena fluconazolului.Testele de stabilitate au confirmat compatibilitatea chimic a amestecului UE-fluconazol n diferite condiii de pstrare.Rezultatele susin utilizarea UE de rozmarin ca adjuvant n terapia antifungic, n special asupra tulpinilor multirezirestente de Candida.