To study the antifungal activity of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) and cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) essential oils against Candida albicans biofilm established on acrylic denture surface in vitro.
Methods:
Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum cidal concentration (MCC) of lemongrass (C. citratus) and cinnamon (C. zeylanicum) against C. albicans ATCC 10231 were determined by micro-broth dilution method. Candida biofilm was then established on heat polymerized acrylic resin (5x5 mm) prior to being soaked in the tested essential oils with concentrations in the range of ½MCC, MCC, 2xMCC, 4xMCC, 8xMCC and 16xMCC for 1, 2, 4, and 24 hours. The viability of the treated candida biofilm was determined by using a tetrazolium (XTT) reduction assay.
Results:
MIC and MCC values of each essential oil were identical. The MCCs of lemongrass and cinnamon were 0.04% (v/v) and 0.01% (v/v), respectively. Within an hour, approximately 50% of the viable candida biofilm remained after treated with concentrations as low as ½MCC of both lemongrass [0.02%] and cinnamon [0.005%] oils. In comparison, when treated with the respective concentrations as 8xMCC [0.32%; 0.08%] and 4xMCC [0.16%; 0.04%] of both essential oils, at least 95% of the established candida biofilm was destroyed vividly within 1 and 24 hours.
Conclusions:
Depending upon the concentration and the exposure time, both lemongrass and cinnamon essential oils illustrated impressive antifungal effect against candida biofilm established on acrylic resin.