الفهرس 
Antifungal effect of selected essential oils and Fluconazole on biofilm formation by some resistant Candida species
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Abstract
The objective of this study was to in-vitro screen the antimicrobial activities of some plant essential oils against clinical isolates of Candida albicans causing vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) compared to those of fluconazole and investigate the antifungal effect of the most active one against planktonic and sessile cells. Screening of biofilm production by Candida albicans causing VVC was performed by tissue culture plate method. Antifungal activities of nine essential oils were screened against 10 strong biofilm forming clinical isolates and Candida albicans ATCC 10231 by well diffusion method. Antifungal susceptibility of fluconazole was performed by disk diffusion method. Determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of fennel essential oil and fluconazole were performed by microdilution methods against planktonic and sessile cells. Determination of combined antimicrobial activity of fennel oil and fluconazole was evaluated by checkerboard microdilution assay. from 19 C. albicans, 10/19 showed strong ability to form biofilm. All clinical isolates were resistant to fluconazole. Fennel oil had a significant high antifungal activities against tested C. albicans compared to other tested oils and fluconazole (P=0.000).MICs of fennel oil for planktonic cells ranged from 0.78% to 6.25% with MIC50 3.12% and MIC90 6.25%while concentrations ranged between 6.25% and 25% resulted in 50% biofilm reduction. Synergy or addition between fennel oil and fluconazole were detected against 7/11 strains while no antagonism was detected. Fennel oil alone or in combination with fluconazole could provide a promising approach in the management of VVC caused by drug resistant strains