Chemical composition and additive inhibitory activity of combination of Mentha piperita, Cinnamonum vernum & Jasminum officinale essential oils as an alternative therapy against Dermatophytosis

The antifungal potential of Peppermint, Cinnamon & Jasmine essential oils alone and in combination, against common causes of superficial fungal infections in humans was investigated via in-vitro investigations, in order to determine a suitable dosage for use in clinical trials. Antimycotic activity of three plant derived Essential oils (EOs) namely Mentha piperita, Cinnamonum vernum & Jasminum officinale were evaluated against Trichophyton equinum and Microsporum canis, causative agent of zoonotic dermatophytosis by Disc diffusion method alone and in mixture and further determination of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) by modified Microdilution method. Chemical compositions of M.piperita, C.vernum & J. officinale essential oil were determined by Gas chromatography Mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In M.piperita essential oil, thirteen compounds, C.vernum, ten compounds and J. officinale, fifteen compounds were identified by GC-MS. The excellent antidermatophytic activity of mixture of oils was found against M.canis & T.equinum as compared to single oils and standard drugs used. The results concluded that the combination of three essential oils showed remarkable and excellent inhibitory activity against fungal pathogens and can be used as an alternative topical therapy for the treatment of dermatophytosis after undergoing clinical trials and also regarded as an environmentally safe mode of diseases control.