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In Vitro Activity of Tea Tree Oil Vaginal Suppositories against Candida spp. and Probiotic Vaginal Microbiota
Author(s) -
Di Vito Maura,
Mattarelli Paola,
Modesto Monica,
Girolamo Antonietta,
Ballardini Milva,
Tamburro Annunziata,
Meledandri Marcello,
Mondello Francesca
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/ptr.5422
Subject(s) - tea tree oil , microbiology and biotechnology , candida albicans , lactobacillus , bifidobacterium animalis , probiotic , biology , broth microdilution , lactobacillus acidophilus , lactobacillus casei , candida parapsilosis , antibiotics , bifidobacterium , minimum inhibitory concentration , food science , essential oil , bacteria , genetics , fermentation
The aim of this work is to evaluate the in vitro microbicidal activity of vaginal suppositories (VS) containing tea tree oil (TTO‐VS) towards Candida spp. and vaginal probiotics. A total of 20 Candida spp. strains, taken from patients with vaginitis and from an established type collection, including reference strains, were analysed by using the CLSI microdilution method. To study the action of VS towards the beneficial vaginal microbiota, the sensitivity of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (DSM 10140) and Lactobacillus spp. ( Lactobacillus casei R‐215 and Lactobacillus acidophilus R‐52) was tested. Both TTO‐VS and TTO showed fungicidal activity against all strains of Candida spp. whereas placebo‐VS or the Aloe gel used as controls were ineffective. The study of fractional fungicidal concentrations (FFC) showed synergistic interaction with the association between Amphotericin B and TTO (0.25 to 0.08 µg/ml, respectively) against Candida albicans . Instead, the probiotics were only affected by TTO concentration ≥ 4% v/v , while, at concentrations < 2% v/v , they remained viable. TTO‐VS exhibits, in vitro , a selective fungicidal action, slightly affecting only the Bifidobacteriun animalis strain growth belonging to the vaginal microbiota. In vivo studies are needed to confirm the efficacy to prevent acute or recurrent vaginal candidiasis. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.