The anti-dermatophyte activity of Zataria multiflora essential oils

SummaryObjectiveDermtophytes are a group of pathogenic fungi and the major cause of dermatophytosis in humans and animals. Fighting dermatophytes by natural essential oils is one important issue in new researches.Materials and methodsIn this investigation, we evaluated the anti-dermatophyte activities of three samples of Z. multiflora essential oils against dermatophytes along with analysis of chemical compositions of the essential oils and their anti-elastase activities on elastase production in dermatophytes.ResultsCarvacrol (1.5-34.4%), thymol (25.8-41.2%), carvacrol methyl ether (1.9-28.3%) and p-cymene (2.3-8.3%) were the main components of Z. multiflora essential oils. Z. multiflora essential oils (100 ppm) inhibited the mycelium growth of dermatophytes (6 ± 1.7-47.0 ± 1.4%) and had the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC) values of 0.03-0.25 μl/ml against dermatophytes. Essential oils inhibited elastase produced in dermatophytes and pure porcine elastase.ConclusionZ. multiflora essential oils can be used as natural anti-dermatophyte agent for fighting dermatophytes in further preclinical and clinical studies.