JAC Advance Access originally published online on November 20, 2006
Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 2007 59(2):305-308; doi:10.1093/jac/dkl473
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In vitro activity of Citrus bergamia (bergamot) oil against clinical isolates of dermatophytes
1 Institute of Microbiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart Rome, Italy 2 Laboratory of Clinical Pathology and Microbiology, Center for High Technology Research and Education in Biomedical Sciences, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart Campobasso, Italy 3 Unit of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Hospital of San Filippo Neri Rome, Italy
Received 4 May 2006; returned 5 July 2006; revised 26 October 2006; accepted 29 October 2006
*Corresponding author. Tel: +39-06-30154964; Fax: +39-06-3051152; E-mail: msanguinetti{at}rm.unicatt.it
Objectives: Recently, bergamot oil was shown to be a potent antifungal agent in vitro against clinically important Candida species. In this study, the activities of bergamot natural essence and its furocoumarin-free and distilled extracts on dermatophytes such as Trichophyton, Microsporum and Epidermophyton species were investigated.
Methods: In vitro susceptibility testing assays on 92 clinical isolates of dermatophytes (Trichophyton mentagrophytes n = 20, Trichophyton rubrum n = 18, Trichophyton interdigitale n = 15, Trichophyton tonsurans n = 2, Microsporum canis n = 24, Microsporum gypseum n = 1 and Epidermophyton floccosum n = 12) were performed using the CLSI M38-A broth microdilution method, except for employing an inoculum of 13 x 103 cfu/mL. MICs were determined at a visual endpoint reading of 80% inhibition compared with the growth control.
Results: MICs (v/v) of all fungi ranged from 0.156% to 2.5% for the natural essence, from 0.02% to 2.5% for the distilled extract, and from 0.08% to 1.25% for the furocoumarin-free extract. The three isolates of T. tonsurans and M. gypseum exhibited the highest MIC values.
Conclusions: Data from this study indicate that bergamot oil is active in vitro against several common species of dermatophytes, suggesting its potential use for topical treatment of dermatophytoses.
Keywords: MIC , broth microdilution , antifungal susceptibility