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Antifungal activity of levomenthol, 2-phenylethanol, thymol and hydroquinone

Many biological effects have been documented for simply aromatic (phenolics) and cyclic alcohols of natural origin. The antimicrobial effects of these low-molecular-weight plant metabolites could be promising agents against superficial mycoses of man and animals when used alone or in combination with synthetic antimycotics. For this purpose, the aim of this study was to investigate in vitro antifungal activity of levomenthol, 2-phenylethanol, thymol and hydroquinone against clinical isolates of Candida albicans, Microsporum gypseum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes (N=5 per species). Broth microdilution method was performed according to CLSI (ex NCCLS) M38-P guidelines for determination of minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC). Yeasts and dermatophytes were sensitive to all investigated alcohols with MIC values below or equal 5.625 mg/mL. The lowest MIC values demonstrated aromatic alcohols, thymol and hydroquinone against M. gypseum (MIC 0.061 mg/mL, MIC 0.049 mg/mL, respectively) and C. albicans (MIC 1.719 mg/mL, MIC 1.563 mg/mL, respectively) strains. Hydroquinone and 2-phenylethanol showed the lowest MIC values against T. mentagrophytes strains with MIC values 0.488 mg/mL and 0.821 mg/mL. When chemical structure was compared with antifungal activity, aromatic alcohols with one or two hydroxyl groups, such as thymol and hydroquinone showed the strongest activity against C. albicans strains. Dermatophytes sensitivity was species-depended. The strongest activity was observed using thymol, hydroquinine and levomenthol against M. gypseum, and thymol, hydroquinone and 2-phenylethanol against T. mentagrophytes strains. In conclusion, the causative agents of superficial mycoses are more sensitive to thymol and hydroquinone. They showed significantly lower MIC values than aromatic 2-phenylethanol and cyclic levomenthol. Double hydroxyl group in molecule of these investigated natural alcohols enhances antifungal activity.

Malassezia; dermatophytes; antifungal; levomenthol; 2-phenyethanol; hydoquinone; thymol

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