## 3 Results
### Antibacterial Activity of Eugenol and Isoenenol Against Yeast-like Fungi  
Table 4 shows the growth inhibition zones of the selected yeast-like fungi around disks soaked in eugenol and isoeigenol. These data provide valuable insight into the antifungal activity of these compounds against various fungal strains. Determining the extent of inhibition zones is crucial for comparing and evaluating the efficacy of eugenol and isoeigenol as potential antifungal agents. The table presents the differences in the antifungal activity between the two tested compounds and different species of yeast-like fungi, shedding light on their potential use in the control and treatment of fungal infections.  
The analysis of the antifungal activity of eugenol and isoeigenol against the selected yeast-like fungi revealed significant differences in the observed growth inhibition zones, suggesting considerable antifungal properties for both compounds. The measured inhibition zones, expressed in millimeters, along with mean values and standard deviations, provide a clearer picture of their effectiveness.  
For the reference strains _Candida albicans_ (ATCC 10231 and ATCC 24433), eugenol demonstrated substantial zones of growth inhibition, measuring 30 mm and 30.75 mm, respectively. Isoeugenol exhibited slightly lower but still impressive inhibition zones of 24.75 mm and 25.25 mm. These results are significantly higher than those observed in the negative and positive controls, indicating that both eugenol and isoeugenol possess strong antifungal activity against _C. albicans_[19; 40]. These findings are consistent with previous studies in the literature [19; 20; 28] which documented the antifungal efficacy of eugenol against various _Candida_ species, with inhibition zones ranging from 20 mm to 30 mm depending on the concentration and exposure time.  
Similar trends were observed for the other strains, such as _Candida glabrata_, _Candida parasilosis_, and _Candida dubliniensis_. In these cases, both eugenol and isoeugenol showed significant zones of growth inhibition, well above those in the control groups. The previous literature supports these findings, indicating that eugenol was effective against _C. glabrata_ and other _Candida_ strains, with MIC values reported between 50 and 200 \(\upmu\)g/mL [19; 20; 27]. The consistent effectiveness of these compounds against various _Candida_ strains highlights their potential as antifungal agents.  
Eugenol exhibited higher antifungal activity compared to isoeugenol across all the tested strains. This observation is in line with reports in the literature [20; 28; 30; 40] which indicate that eugenol has stronger antifungal properties than its isomer, isoeugenol. Given these promising results, further research is warranted to explore the specific mechanisms through which these compounds exert their antifungal effects and to investigate their potential interactions with other antifungal agents. This could enhance our understanding of their therapeutic applications in treating infections caused by yeast-like fungi, particularly in the context of increasing resistance to conventional antifungal therapies (Figure 4) [22; 28].  
Additionally, the results suggest that these ingredients also have potential in combating yeasts such as _Candida albicans_, making them effective preservatives in the cosmetic industry. _Candida albicans_ is a common microorganism found in cosmetics, especially in products with high moisture content, such as creams, lotions, and gels. Thanks to their antifungal properties, these ingredients can prevent yeast growth and provide protection for cosmetics against contamination, which is essential for the safety and quality of skin care products.