Essential oils and antimicrobial agents: is their activity comparable?

The growing threat of antimicrobial drug resistance has stimulated the search for new therapeutic alternatives, including essential oils (EOs) that are now recognized for their potential antimicrobial role against microorganisms. Since clinical experience has showed that the efficacy of antimicrobial drugs depends both on their direct effect on a given microorganism and on the activity of the host immune system, we have evaluated the activity of several EOs against yeasts and filamentous fungi and the influence of thyme red oil on intracellular killing by PMNs against Candida spp, in comparison with azoles and echinocandins. Data have showed a good activity of EOs and suggested a positive interaction of thyme red oil with PMNs in eradicating intracellular yeasts, as observed with antimicrobial drugs.