Antimycotic efficacy of Iranian medicinal plants towards dermatophytes obtained from patients with dermatophytosis

AimNine plant essential oils (EOs), including those from Artemisia sieberi, Cuminum cyminum, Foeniculum vulgare, Heracleum persicum, Menta spicata, Nigella sativa, Rosmarinus officinalis, Zataria multiflora and Ziziphora clinopodioides, were evaluated for their anti-dermatophytic properties.MethodsThe tested dermatophytes included Trichophyton mentagrophytes (No. 32), T. rubrum (No. 29), Epidermophyton floccosum (No. 19), Microsporum gypseum (No. 11) and M. canis (No. 42). The susceptibility tests of plant oils in terms of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC) were performed by the broth microdilution technique as described by the Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute.ResultsAll EOs studied were active against the dermatophytes. The MICs recorded for the plant oils tested ranged from 0.25 to 4 mg·mL−1. The most significant activity was observed with A. sieberi, showing a lower MIC against dermatophytes than other plant oils (P < 0.05).ConclusionData from this study indicated that several Iranian medicinal plant oils, mainly A. sieberi, are active in vitro against different dermatophyte species, suggesting their potential use for the topical treatment of dermatophytoses.