Antifungal and Antibiofilm Effects of Melaleuca viridiflora Niaouli Oil and Propolis on Candida spp. Isolated from Vulvovaginal Candidiasis

Year 2025, Volume: 55 Issue: 3, 504 - 510, 14.01.2026

Ruveyda Karagoz Polat , Reyhan Arslan , Mayram Hacıoglu

https://doi.org/10.26650/IstanbulJPharm.2025.1652143

https://izlik.org/JA72CJ73LA

Abstract

Background and Aims Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a widespread fungal infection in women, and increasing antifungal resistance necessitates the search for alternative treatments. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antifungal and antibiofilm effects of niaouli oil (Melaleuca viridiflora) and propolis against Candida species.

Methods Ten clinical Candida strains including five C. albicans and five non-albicans Candida (NAC) (3 Candida glabrata, 2 Candida tropicalis) and the Candida albicans ATCC 90028 reference strain were tested to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) values and antibiofilm activities of niaouli oil and propolis.

Results According to the results, the MIC (% v/v) range of niaouli oil was 0.19-1.56 and that of propolis was 0.04-0.78. The MFC values were found to be equal to or several times higher than the MIC values. Niaouli oil significantly reduced Candida biofilms, whereas propolis did not show any antibiofilm activity. In addition, niaouli oil showed quorum sensing (QS) inhibitory effects. The combination of niaouli oil and propolis showed a significant inhibitory effect on all Candida strains, both at direct and half-diluted concentrations, without inhibiting each other's effects.

Conclusion These findings suggest that niaouli oil and propolis could serve as potential alternative or complementary agents in the antifungal treatment of VVC; however, more toxicity studies are required to ensure their safe clinical application.

Keywords

Anti-Quorum Sensing , Biofilm , Niaouli oil , Propolis , Vulvovaginal candidiasis

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