Cymbopogon distans essential oil exhibit potent anti-candida activity by preventing the yeast-to-hyphal transition and biofilm production ability of Candida albicans

Abstract

Candidiasis is an infection of various part of the body involving oral cavity, vagina, penis, and skin tissue caused by an opportunistic pathogen Candida albicans. Candidiasis affects people of all age groups, however, infants and the old age peoples are most likely to be affected with this disease. Cymbopogon distans is an aromatic crop native to Himalayan region having various biological activities. The present study aimed to determine the anti-Candida effect of C. distans essential oil against the Candida spp. along with examining its efficacy to reduce biofilm formation and yeast-to-hyphal transitions ability of C. albicans. The results of the study revealed that C. distans essential oil has severe toxicity against all tested species of Candida. Moreover, the time killing kinetics data showed that the C. distans essential oil completely killed the C. albicans within the 60 min of the treatment. Additionally, a distorted morphology was observed after treatment of C. distans to the C. albicans within the short period of time. More importantly, C. distans essential oil inhibited the yeast-to-hyphal transition and the biofilm formation ability of C. albicans significantly. Thus, the data obtained from this study suggest that C. distans could potentially be used as therapeutic agent against C. albicans infection.