Antifungal activity of essential oils of Prangos frulacea, Ziziphora tenuior, Ferula gummosa and Dracocephalum moldavica against candida albicans

Background: Candidiasis is the most common oral fungal infection and today due to side effects of anti-fungal medications, research has directed to find an alternative herbal remedy. Objective: This study aimed to determine the antifungal effect of the essential oils of Prangos frulacea, Ziziphora tenuior, Ferula gummosa and Dracocephalum moldavica against Candida albicans. Methods: This experimental in vitro study has been performed in dental school of Zanjan in 2014-15. After preparing the essential oils of Prangos frulacea, Ziziphora tenuior, Ferula gummosa, and Dracocephalum moldavica, antimicrobial susceptibility of isolated Candida albicans  was evaluated by antibiogram test and then MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) and MBC (minimum bactericidal concentration) values were obtained. Findings: All studied essential oils showed higher diameters and there were Prangos ferulacea, Ziziphora tenuior and Dracocephalum moldavica in an ascending order, except Ferula gummosa that had similar diameter of zone of inhibition to chlorhexidine (28mm). Minimuminhibitory concentration of all the studied essential oils were less than chlorhexidine (1.56µg/ml) and the least amount belonged to Ziziphora tenuior (0.26µg/ml). Also, the minimum bactericidal concentration of all the essential oils were less than chlorhexidine (1.56µg/ml), except Ferula gummos(4.56µg/ml). Conclusion: The results of this study on Candida albicans species showed that inhibitory and bactericidal effects of all the studied essential oils were stronger than standard drug chlorhexidine except Ferula gummosa, and Ziziphora tenuior has more antifungal effects than other plant essential oils.