Action of Coriandrum sativum L. Essential Oil upon Oral Candida albicans Biofilm Formation

The efficacy of extracts and essential oils fromAllium tuberosum, Coriandrum sativum, Cymbopogon martini, Cymbopogon winterianus,andSantolina chamaecyparissuswas evaluated againstCandidaspp. isolates from the oral cavity of patients with periodontal disease. The most active oil was fractionated and tested againstC. albicansbiofilm formation. The oils were obtained by water-distillation and the extracts were prepared with macerated dried plant material. The Minimal Inhibitory Concentration—MIC was determined by the microdilution method. Chemical characterization of oil constituents was performed using Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). C. sativum activity oil upon cell and biofilm morphology was evaluated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The best activities against planktonicCandidaspp. were observed for the essential oil and the grouped F8–10fractions fromC. sativum. The crude oil also affected the biofilm formation inC. albicanscausing a decrease in the biofilm growth. Chemical analysis of the F8–10fractions detected as major active compounds, 2-hexen-1-ol, 3-hexen-1-ol and cyclodecane. Standards of these compounds tested grouped provided a stronger activity than the oil suggesting a synergistic action from the major oil constituents. The activity ofC. sativumoil demonstrates its potential for a new natural antifungal formulation.