Ocena działania olejku jałowcowego (Juniperi aetheroleum) wobec grzybów drożdżopodobnych
Authors: Kędzia Anna , Hołderna-Kędzia Elżbieta 
Published: August 2021

Introduction. Juniper has been known and often used in folk medicine since ancient times. The extracts and essential oil of this plant’s fruit exhibit anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, blood pressure lowering, antiarthritic, antirheumatic activity and are helpful in Alzheimer’s disease. Fruits contain essential oil (α-pinene, limonene, β-pinene, terpinen-4-ol, sabinene, β-phellandrene, α-terpinene, myrcene, γ-terpinene); organic acids, flavonoids and tannins. Juniper oil shows antimicrobial activity. Aim. The aim of this research was evaluating activity of juniper oil against yeast-like fungi isolated from the oral cavity. Material and methods. The study included 31 strains of fungi belonging to the following species: Candida albicans (14 strains), Candida glabrata (3), Candida guilliermondii (1), Candida humicola (1), Candida kefyr (2), Candida krusei (2), Candida lusitaniae (1), Candida parapsilosis (3), Candida tropicalis (3), Candida utilis (1) and 9 reference strains from genus: C. albicans ATCC 10231, C. glabrata ATCC 66032, C. guilliermondii ATCC 6260, C. kefyr, ATCC 4130, C. krusei ATCC 14249, C. lusitaniae ATCC 34499, C. parapsilosis ATCC 22019, C. tropicalis ATCC 750 i C. utilis ATCC 9958. The susceptibility (MIC) of fungal strains to juniper oil was determined by the method of serial dilution technique in Sabouraud’s agar. At first, the oil was diluted in DMSO, then in distilled water. The tested concentrations were: 20.0, 15.0, 10.0, 7.5 and 5.0 mg/ml. The suspension containing 105 CFU/per drop was transferred by a Steers replicator to the surface of Sabouraud’s agar with or without juniper oil (strains growth control). Incubation was carried out at 37°C for 24-48 hrs under aerobic conditions. The lowest concentration of oil that completely inhibited the growth of the tested yeast-like fungi was taken as the MIC. Results. The results indicated, that the strains of Candida guilliermondii and C. utilis were the most sensitive to juniper oil. The growth of these strains was inhibited at a concentration of 10.0 mg/ml. The 2 species of strains C. glabrata and Candida lusitaniae were sensitive to a concentration of 15.0 mg/ml. The juniper oil was less active against Candida kefyr strains (MIC – 7.5-> 20.0 mg/ml). Fungi from genus of C. krusei, Candida parapsilosis and C. tropicalis were susceptible to concentrations in the range 10.0-≥ 20.0 mg/ml. The Candida albicans strains were characterized by moderate susceptibility. The growth of the 50% strains was inhibited at concentration 15.0 mg/ml and another 50% strains at 20.0 mg/ml. Of all the yeast-like fungi strains tested only 1 strain was sensitive to the low concentration of 7.5 mg/ml, and another 5 strains to 10.0 mg/ml. The growth of 39% of fungi strains was inhibited at the concentration of 15.0 mg/ml and 42% at concentration 20.0 mg/ml of the oil and more. Conclusions. Candida guilliermondii and C. utilis showed the highest sensitivity to juniper oil. The Candida albicans strains were characterized by moderate susceptibility. The juniper oil showed the lowest activity against Candida humicola species.