Harnessing Nature's Arsenal: Exploring the Synergistic Antifungal Potential of Clove Oil and Nystatin
Location
D.P. Culp Center Ballroom
Start Date
4-5-2024 9:00 AM
End Date
4-5-2024 11:30 AM
Poster Number
110
Name of Project's Faculty Sponsor
Ashana Puri
Faculty Sponsor's Department
Pharmaceutical Sciences
Competition Type
Competitive
Type
Poster Presentation
Presentation Category
Health
Abstract or Artist's Statement
Fungal infections, particularly those caused by Candida albicans, pose significant health risks, including nutrient depletion, immune evasion, and tissue damage. Treatment complexity arises from the structural similarity between human and fungal cells. Nystatin, a polyene anti-fungal drug, disrupts fungal cell membranes by creating pores, offering a vital treatment avenue. However, fungal resistance, driven by genetic mutations and biofilm formation, challenges its efficacy. This study explores enhancing Nystatin's activity against topical Candida albicans using clove oil, known for its anti-fungal properties and the ability to enhance skin permeation. Clove oil, primarily composed of eugenol, inhibits spore germination and mycelial growth, damaging fungal cell membranes. Combined with Nystatin, it is hypothesized to form a synergistic barrier against resistance mechanisms, presenting a novel approach. Topical application minimizes clove oil's potential toxicities, making it a safe and effective option for fungal infection treatment. In the present study, Kirby-Bauer Diffusion test was employed for qualitative assessment of the combined anti-fungal effects of nystatin and clove oil. Agar plates were inoculated with Candida albicans suspended in Sabouraud Dextrose Broth. Wells (5 mm) were punched out of the agar using a cork borer with aseptic technique. Different formulations (nystatin alone emulsions, nystatin and clove oil emulsions, clove oil alone microemulsions, nystatin commercial cream at equivalent drug concentrations of 2.27% w/w) were placed into a well and incubated at 31C at 5.0% (CO)2 for 7 days. The effect of clove oil at two concentrations (7.73% and 10% w/w) was evaluated. After 5 days of incubation, the zones of inhibition were measured for all the formulations. The 10% clove oil and 2.27% nystatin emulsion exhibited a zone diameter of 2.95 cm, while the 7.73% clove oil and 2.27% nystatin emulsion showed a slightly smaller inhibition zone of 2.85 cm. The synergistic effect of clove oil and nystatin was qualitatively evident as the zone of inhibition with the commercial nystatin cream (2.27% w/w) was smaller (1.75 cm) than the combination formulations. The 10% clove oil microemulsion displayed a zone diameter of 2.05 cm, followed by the 7.73% clove oil microemulsion with 1.75 cm. Interestingly, 100% clove oil exhibited the largest zone of inhibition, measuring 3.40 cm, indicating strong anti-fungal activity. The control blank, lacking any inhibitory agent, showed no zone of inhibition. These measurements provide insights into the efficacy of different drug formulations with nystatin and clove oil combinations exhibiting larger inhibition zones suggesting synergistic anti-fungal effectiveness. Future studies include in vitro testing of the combination formulations for skin permeation using porcine ear skin and in vivo studies for anti-fungal efficacy evaluation in animal models.
Harnessing Nature's Arsenal: Exploring the Synergistic Antifungal Potential of Clove Oil and Nystatin
D.P. Culp Center Ballroom
Fungal infections, particularly those caused by Candida albicans, pose significant health risks, including nutrient depletion, immune evasion, and tissue damage. Treatment complexity arises from the structural similarity between human and fungal cells. Nystatin, a polyene anti-fungal drug, disrupts fungal cell membranes by creating pores, offering a vital treatment avenue. However, fungal resistance, driven by genetic mutations and biofilm formation, challenges its efficacy. This study explores enhancing Nystatin's activity against topical Candida albicans using clove oil, known for its anti-fungal properties and the ability to enhance skin permeation. Clove oil, primarily composed of eugenol, inhibits spore germination and mycelial growth, damaging fungal cell membranes. Combined with Nystatin, it is hypothesized to form a synergistic barrier against resistance mechanisms, presenting a novel approach. Topical application minimizes clove oil's potential toxicities, making it a safe and effective option for fungal infection treatment. In the present study, Kirby-Bauer Diffusion test was employed for qualitative assessment of the combined anti-fungal effects of nystatin and clove oil. Agar plates were inoculated with Candida albicans suspended in Sabouraud Dextrose Broth. Wells (5 mm) were punched out of the agar using a cork borer with aseptic technique. Different formulations (nystatin alone emulsions, nystatin and clove oil emulsions, clove oil alone microemulsions, nystatin commercial cream at equivalent drug concentrations of 2.27% w/w) were placed into a well and incubated at 31C at 5.0% (CO)2 for 7 days. The effect of clove oil at two concentrations (7.73% and 10% w/w) was evaluated. After 5 days of incubation, the zones of inhibition were measured for all the formulations. The 10% clove oil and 2.27% nystatin emulsion exhibited a zone diameter of 2.95 cm, while the 7.73% clove oil and 2.27% nystatin emulsion showed a slightly smaller inhibition zone of 2.85 cm. The synergistic effect of clove oil and nystatin was qualitatively evident as the zone of inhibition with the commercial nystatin cream (2.27% w/w) was smaller (1.75 cm) than the combination formulations. The 10% clove oil microemulsion displayed a zone diameter of 2.05 cm, followed by the 7.73% clove oil microemulsion with 1.75 cm. Interestingly, 100% clove oil exhibited the largest zone of inhibition, measuring 3.40 cm, indicating strong anti-fungal activity. The control blank, lacking any inhibitory agent, showed no zone of inhibition. These measurements provide insights into the efficacy of different drug formulations with nystatin and clove oil combinations exhibiting larger inhibition zones suggesting synergistic anti-fungal effectiveness. Future studies include in vitro testing of the combination formulations for skin permeation using porcine ear skin and in vivo studies for anti-fungal efficacy evaluation in animal models.