In vitro activity of carvacrol, cinnamaldehyde and thymol combined with antifungals against Malassezia pachydermatis

J Mycol Med. 2019 Dec;29(4):375-377. doi: 10.1016/j.mycmed.2019.08.003. Epub 2019 Aug 19.

Abstract

Malassezia pachydermatis is an important opportunistic agent of dermatitis and otitis in dogs. M. pachydermatis is generally treated with topical therapies using combinations of antifungal, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agents. We investigated the in vitro activities of carvacrol (CRV), cinnamaldehyde (CIN) and thymol (THY) alone and in combination with antifungal agents (fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, clotrimazole, miconazole, terbinafine and nystatin) against M. pachydermatis. The assays were performed according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), using Sabouraud dextrose broth and checkerboard microdilution. The mean fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) showed primary synergies for the combinations carvacrol+nystatin, thymol+nystatin, and carvacrol+miconazole (80%). In conclusion, the results obtained indicate that the phytochemicals tested showed relevant in vitro anti-M. pachydermatis activity. Future in vivo experiments are needed to elucidate the safety and therapeutic potential of these combinations.

Keywords: Antifungal agents; Malasseziosis; Phytochemicals.; Susceptibility.

MeSH terms

  • Acrolein / analogs & derivatives*
  • Acrolein / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cymenes / pharmacology*
  • Dermatomycoses / drug therapy
  • Dermatomycoses / veterinary*
  • Dog Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Dog Diseases / microbiology
  • Dogs / microbiology
  • Drug Combinations
  • Drug Resistance, Fungal
  • Malassezia / drug effects*
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Phytochemicals / chemistry
  • Phytochemicals / pharmacology
  • Thymol / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Cymenes
  • Drug Combinations
  • Phytochemicals
  • Thymol
  • Acrolein
  • carvacrol
  • cinnamaldehyde