Comparison of the Antifungal Efficacy of Four Concentrations of Minthostachys mollis (Muña) Essential Oil against Candida albicans: An In Vitro Study

Aim and objective: This paper aims to compare the antifungal efficacy of four concentrations of Minthostachys mollis essential oil (MEO) against Candida albicans ATCC 10231. Materials and methods: This study was conducted in vitro. Ten kilograms of M. mollis (Muña) were collected in the city of Tarma, Peru. The plant was then dried in the shade at room temperature (21°C), and the essential oil was obtained through distillation. C. albicans ATCC 10231 was cultured at a MacFarland scale of 0.5, which corresponds to a concentration of 3 × 108 CFU/mL. Each plate was filled with one of the four MEO concentrations (25, 50, 75, or 100%), dimethyl sulfoxide (negative control), or fluconazole (positive control), a known antifungal agent. After incubation, each plate was examined using the Kirby-Bauer method. Results: Compared to MEO 25%, MEO 50%, and MEO 75%, MEO 100% had the highest antifungal efficacy at 24, 48, and 72 hours of evaluation, with an average of 18.9 ± 0.7, 18.2 ± 0.7, and 17.0 ± 0.4 mm, respectively. However, fluconazole had higher efficacy (27.9 ± 0.5, 27.5 ± 0.5, and 23.7 ± 0.7 mm, respectively). Post hoc analysis showed that there were significant differences between all concentrations of the MEO groups and their respective positive and negative control groups (p <0.001). Conclusion: Among the MEO groups, the pure concentration (MEO 100%) had the highest antifungal efficacy. However, fluconazole presented greater efficacy, and the differences were statistically significant. Clinical significance: This research allowed to know the efficacy of this natural resource against one of the most prevalent fungi in the oral cavity. Therefore, a line of research could be opened to deepen its potential benefits for oral health.