A novel anti-candidiasis cream formulation based on Melissa officinalis and Lavandula stoechas essential oils synergism

Abstract

Candida albicans is the yeast strain that causes candidiasis, which can vary from minor skin and soft tissue infections to potentially fatal infections like candidemia, which can get worse due to drug resistance. Natural substances could be used as antifungal agents’ alternatives, especially against C. albicans. Thereby, the main objective of this research was to define the chemical content and evaluate the bioactivity of Melissa officinalis and Lavandula stoechas essential oils (EOs). Additionally, the synergistic effect of both oils was carried out against C. albicans, in order to formulate EOs combination-based creams. Their chemical compositions were analyzed using the combination of gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and GC-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The interaction with both EOs was also evaluated and analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS, and the development of anti-candidiasis formulations was tested in vitro. Our results showed that the main compounds of M. officinalis EO (MOEO) were geranial (35.7%) and neral (24.1%), whereas, 1.8-cineole (61.9%) was dominant in Lavandula stoechas essential oil (LSEO) and the main compounds of the combination between both EOs were 1,8-cineole and geranial. Moreover, the MOEO exhibited substantial antifungal action against all tested microorganisms with MIC values ranging from 0.125 to 0.0019. This EO also showed synergistic effect when combined with that of L. stoechas. These findings, suggest the good bioactive qualities of the topical creams developed against C. albicans, revealing their potential to be possibly applied as an antifungal agent in industrial pharmaceutics.