Effect of Melaleuca Alternifolia and Its Components on Candida Albicans and Candida Tropicalis

The essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia is an herbal antifungal action and preventive scale pharmaceutical or cosmetic. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil-TTO) and its component (Terpinen-4-ol) on Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis in planktonic and biofilm form of dual species. MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) and MFC (Minimum Fungicidal Concentration) were determined of single species. Biofilms were quantified in CFU (colony forming unit per mL) and XTT {2,3-bis (2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-5-[(phenylamino) carbonyl]-2H-tetrazolium hydroxide} cell viability assay in single and multiple species. MIC was TTO (0.25%) and Terpinen-4-ol (0.11%) for both species. The MFC for Candida albicans showed TTO (0.25%) and Terpinen-4-ol (0.11%) were capable of inhibiting the growth and for Candida tropicalis was 0.50% and 0.24%, respectively. The results on biofilm for Candida albicans in single species and multiple species showed TTO (0.5%) and Terpinen-4-ol (0.24%) were effective. For Candida tropicalis in single species, treatments with TTO (0.5%) and Terpinen-4-ol (0.47%) were effective. For multiple species, the treatments with TTO (0.5%) and Terpinen-4-ol (0.24%) were also effective. In the XTT test, for Candida albicans in single species: TTO (0.25%) and Terpinen-4-ol (0.24%). For Candida tropicalis, the results were TTO (0.5%) and Terpinen-4-ol (0.11%), while for multiple species were TTO (0.25%) and Terpinen-4-ol (0.11%). Based on these factors, Candida spp. are susceptible to the antimicrobial agents TTO and Terpinen-4-ol, suggesting that these compounds might be beneficial as therapeutic.