فهرست نشریات علمی دسترسی آزاد ایران

Objective: This in vitro study evaluated the antifungal activity of Citrus reticulata (tangerine) peel essential oil and extracts against various Candida species.Methods: The essential oil and aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Citrus reticulata were prepared at 50% and 90% concentrations. Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, and Candida krusei were cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar with turbidity standardized to 0.5 McFarland. Growth inhibition zones were measured and compared to 0.2% chlorhexidine (positive control) and normal saline (negative control). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of the 90% essential oil were also determined against the microorganisms.Results: The 50% essential oil and both 50% and 90% concentrations of aqueous and alcoholic extracts showed no antifungal activity. The 90% essential oil produced inhibition zones of 6.5 ± 0.5 mm for C. albicans, 10.5 ± 0.5 mm for C. glabrata, and 10.0 ± 1.0 mm for C. krusei, all significantly smaller than those of chlorhexidine (17.0 ± 0.2 mm, 15.0 ± 0.3 mm, and 17.0 ± 0.2 mm, respectively; P<0.05). MIC values were 1/8 for C. albicans, 1/32 for C. glabrata, and 1/4 for C. krusei (based on 90% concentration). The essential oil was fungicidal only against C. albicans (MFC: 1/2 concentration) and fungistatic against the other two species.Conclusions: The 90% Citrus reticulata essential oil effectively formed inhibition zones against C. albicans, C. glabrata, and C. krusei, although to a lower extent than chlorhexidine. The 90% Citrus reticulata essential oil had a fungicidal effect only on C. albicans.