Evaluation of the anti-mycotic activity of Rosemary Oil Against Candida al-bicans

Received on: 06.08.2018 Revised on: 12.02.2019 Accepted on: 16.02.2019 An antifungal medication, also known as an antimycotic medication, is a pharmaceutical fungicide or fungistatic used to treat and prevent mycoses such as athlete's foot, ringworm, candidiasis, serious systemic infections such as Cryptococcal meningitis, and others. In traditional medicine, extracts and essential oil from flowers and leaves are used in the belief they may be useful to treat a variety of fungal disorders. The aim of this study was to analyse the antimycotic properties of rosemary oil and its principal components. The Rosemary oil was screened for antifungal activity by the disc diffusion method. Activated cultures of Candida albicans in Sabouraud’s broth was adjusted to 0.5 McFarland standards [108cfu/ml]. 100 μl of the inoculum was introduced to molten Sabourauds dextrose agar and poured in the sterile Petri plates and allowed to set. Sterile filter paper discs (6.0 mm diameter) impregnated with 25μl, 50μl and 100μl /disc were placed on fungal seeded plates and incubated at 28oC for 48 hrs. Clear zones within which fungal growth was absent were measured and recorded as the diameter (mm) of complete growth inhibition. All the concentrations of the test solution inhibited the fungal species with varying degree of sensitivity. The extract showed good antifungal activity at different concentrations with a maximum zone of inhibition of 38 mm at concentration 100μl. This study provides a sample large enough to determine the antifungal properties of Rosemary oil and suggests further studies for possible therapeutic use.