Enhancing Anti-fungal Therapy: Evaluating Clove Oil vs. Alternative Oils in Nystatin Formulations

Additional Authors

Lucy Eier, PharmD Candidate, Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN.

Abstract

Background: Candida albicans infections present a significant challenge due to increasing antifungal resistance, necessitating more effective treatment strategies. This study explores clove oil as an enhancer for nystatin, a polyene antifungal, and compares its efficacy to oleic acid and Kollicream IPM, two commonly used excipients. Our previous research demonstrated synergism between clove oil and nystatin; this study further evaluates whether clove oil offers superior antifungal activity than other oils and its potential to combat resistance-related treatment failures. Methods: A 7.73% clove oil and 2.27% nystatin formulation was tested against C. albicans, alongside equivalent oleic acid and Kollicream IPM formulations. The intrinsic antifungal properties of each oil were also assessed. Agar diffusion assays were performed using C. albicans inoculated in Sabouraud Dextrose Broth. Wells (5 mm) were aseptically punched into agar plates, and each formulation was introduced. Plates were incubated at 31°C with 5.0% CO₂ for 7 days. Zones of inhibition were measured after 5 days to determine antifungal efficacy. Results: A solution containing 7.73% clove oil and 2.27% nystatin exhibited an inhibition zone of 2.9 cm. A mixture of 7.73% oleic acid and 2.27% nystatin showed an inhibition zone of 1.9 cm, while the combination of 7.73% Kollicream IPM and 2.27% nystatin resulted in an inhibition zone of 2.5 cm. When tested independently, only clove oil demonstrated inhibitory effects (zone of inhibition of 3.4 cm), while oleic acid and Kollicream IPM did not exhibit any inhibition. Discussion: Among the tested oils, clove oil was the only one to exhibit independent antifungal effects against C. albicans. Furthermore, when combined with nystatin, clove oil significantly enhanced the drug’s fungicidal activity compared to oleic acid and Kollicream IPM, reinforcing its potential as a valuable excipient for optimizing antifungal formulations.

Start Time

16-4-2025 1:30 PM

End Time

16-4-2025 4:00 PM

Presentation Type

Poster

Presentation Category

Science, Technology and Engineering

Student Type

Clinical Doctoral Student (e.g., medical student, pharmacy student)

Faculty Mentor

Ashana Puri

Faculty Department

Pharmaceutical Sciences

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Apr 16th, 1:30 PM Apr 16th, 4:00 PM

Enhancing Anti-fungal Therapy: Evaluating Clove Oil vs. Alternative Oils in Nystatin Formulations

Background: Candida albicans infections present a significant challenge due to increasing antifungal resistance, necessitating more effective treatment strategies. This study explores clove oil as an enhancer for nystatin, a polyene antifungal, and compares its efficacy to oleic acid and Kollicream IPM, two commonly used excipients. Our previous research demonstrated synergism between clove oil and nystatin; this study further evaluates whether clove oil offers superior antifungal activity than other oils and its potential to combat resistance-related treatment failures. Methods: A 7.73% clove oil and 2.27% nystatin formulation was tested against C. albicans, alongside equivalent oleic acid and Kollicream IPM formulations. The intrinsic antifungal properties of each oil were also assessed. Agar diffusion assays were performed using C. albicans inoculated in Sabouraud Dextrose Broth. Wells (5 mm) were aseptically punched into agar plates, and each formulation was introduced. Plates were incubated at 31°C with 5.0% CO₂ for 7 days. Zones of inhibition were measured after 5 days to determine antifungal efficacy. Results: A solution containing 7.73% clove oil and 2.27% nystatin exhibited an inhibition zone of 2.9 cm. A mixture of 7.73% oleic acid and 2.27% nystatin showed an inhibition zone of 1.9 cm, while the combination of 7.73% Kollicream IPM and 2.27% nystatin resulted in an inhibition zone of 2.5 cm. When tested independently, only clove oil demonstrated inhibitory effects (zone of inhibition of 3.4 cm), while oleic acid and Kollicream IPM did not exhibit any inhibition. Discussion: Among the tested oils, clove oil was the only one to exhibit independent antifungal effects against C. albicans. Furthermore, when combined with nystatin, clove oil significantly enhanced the drug’s fungicidal activity compared to oleic acid and Kollicream IPM, reinforcing its potential as a valuable excipient for optimizing antifungal formulations.