Evaluation of the Antifungal effects of Rosemary Oil and comparison with Nystatin on the Growth of Candida species isolates from HIV/AIDS patients with Oral Candidiasis

Background: Oral candidiasis is an infection due to the activity of Candida albicans in the oral cavity. Oral candidiasis is one of the most common opportunistic infections occuring among Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients. Due to increasing resistance and adverse effects to commonly used antifungal drugs, many recent studies have examined the use of herbal essential oils as antifungal agents. In this study, essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis (Lamiaceae) and nystatin were examined for in vitro antifungal activity against Candida species. Aim: To evaluate antifungal activity of essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis (Lamiaceae) and nystatin by comparing inhibition zone diameters. Methods: This study was an experimental laboratory study with a posttest only design conducted in Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital, Surabaya. Forty isolates consisted of 20 isolates of Candida albicans and Candida non-albicans were subjected to test for antifungal activity using the diffusion disk method using paper discs or blank discs and inhibitory zones were recorded. Results: Diffusion test results revealed stronger antifungal effect of nystatin against all analyzed Candida strains. This study showed the mean diameter of the inhibitory zone for Candida albicans formed by rosemary essential oil is 2.25 mm and the average inhibition zone formed by rosemary essential oil for Candida non-albicans is 1.5 mm. Conclusion: The antifungal activity of nystatin is stronger when compared to rosemary essential oil as seen from a greater inhibition zone than rosemary essential oil in the diffusion method.