Antimycotic Activity of Some Aromatic Plants Essential Oils Against Canine Isolates of Malassezia pachydermatis: An in vitro Assay

The antifungal activity and the chemical composition of essential oils (EOs) from some Mediterranean autochthonous plants were investigated against Malassezia pachydermatis, a fastidious opportunistic yeast usually involved in canine external otitis. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of Anthemis nobilis, Citrus limon, Citrus paradisi, Illicium verum, Lavandula hybrida, Mentha piperita, Ocimum basilicum, Origanum vulgare, Origanum majorana, Rosmarinus officinalis, Salvia sclarea, Thymus serpillum were assessed by microdilution test; minimum fungicidal activity (MFC) was also determined. O. vulgare, T. serpillum and O. basilicum showed the lowest MIC and MFC values (0.8%) followed by C. limon and M. piperita (1%). EOs from the tested plants showed variable degrees of anti-malassezia activity, putatively related to their chemical composition. The effectiveness, manageability and pleasant organoleptic properties of O. vulgare, T. serpillum, O. basilicum, C. limon and M. piperita EOs make them advisable as promising new natural antifungal drugs in the management of M. pachydermatis otitis in dog