Candida albicans 기인성 뇌감염에 대한 로즈마리 정유의 항진균효과

Antifungal Effect of Rosemary Essential Oil against Brain Infection due to Candida albicans

Recently, the number of cases of fungal brain infections has been rising caused by Candida albicans. In this present study, we determined effect of rosemary essential oil (REO) against fungal brain infection due to C. albicans. In experiments, REO extract contained of α-pinene, β-pinene, 1,8-cineole, camphor, and verbenone as main essential oils as analyzed by GC-MS. The REO inhibited C. albicans growth under in-vitro condition. This antifungal activity was dose dependent. Thus, REO was then assessed in the animal model of brain infection. BALB/c mice were pre-treated intraperitoneally with anti-CD4 mAb. Forty-eight hours later, the mice were infected intravenously with C. albicans (Day 1) and these animals received REO every other day for 3 times (Day 1, 3, & 5). At Day 12, their brains were harvested and CFU (colony forming units) values in the brains were measured. Results showed that REO treatment reduced CFU values up to approx. 65% when compared to CFU values of control mice (P < 0.01). Similarly, the REO treatment improved whirling motion in mice, which served as an indicator for the presence of a brain infection. Amphotericin B, a positive control, had similar activity as REO. Therefore, our observations indicate that REO appears to be effective against fungal brain infections caused by C. albicans.