ANTICANDIDAL ACTIVITY OF TWO ESSENTIAL OILS FROM MOROCCO: THYMUS SATUREIOIDES AND MENTHA PULEGIUM L.

Abstract: Due to the side effects of antifungal medications and the resistance that has limited the use of these molecules, several studies on the antifungal activity of essential oils have been conducted to find natural alternatives to conventional antifungal drugs. The anticandidal activity and chemical composition of Thymus satureioides and Mentha pulegium L. essential oils were evaluated by testing 12 strains of Candida albicans, one strain of Candida parapsilosis, and one strain of Candida tropicalis. Two methods were used: the tube dilution method and the poisoned medium method. The use of mathematical modelling allowed for the precise determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC 80%) of the tested essential oils. Chemical analysis showed that both essential oils have a complex composition, with borneol as the major compound in Thymus satureioides essential oil and pulegone in Mentha pulegium L. essential oil. Both Thymus satureioides and Mentha pulegium L. essential oils exhibited anticandidal activity against all 14 tested Candida strains, with MIC80% ranging from 1.28433 mg/mL to 5.18543 mg/mL for Thymus satureioides essential oil and from 0.96217 mg/mL to 3.19589 mg/mL for Mentha pulegium L. essential oil. The results obtained in this study demonstrate that both essential oils have inhibitory and fungicidal action against all tested strains. These findings suggest that Thymus satureioides and Mentha pulegium L. essential oils may serve as a natural alternative to antifungal agents in the fight against candidiasis. Keywords: Anticandidal activity, Essential oils, Thymus satureioides, Mentha pulegium L., Candidiasis.