Synergistic Effects of Thyme Essential Oil and Thyme Honey on Biofilm Formation by Candida albicans

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Plant Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

10.48308/pae.2025.237997.1097

Abstract

Candida albicans is a major pathogenic yeast responsible for numerous systemic infections. Its ability to form biofilms significantly complicates treatment, leading to high rates of treatment failure and mortality. This study investigates the synergistic effects of thyme essential oil and thyme monofloral honey on Candida albicans biofilm formation, exploring them as a potential natural therapeutic strategy. The inhibition of biofilm formation was assessed using a crystal violet microtiter plate assay. Various concentrations of thyme monofloral honey (100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% v/v) and thyme essential oil were tested both individually and in combination. A clinical isolate of Candida albicans served as the target organism for the study. The effectiveness of the treatments in inhibiting biofilm formation was measured, and fluorescent microscopy was employed to visualize the effects on yeast cell density and morphology. The results indicated a significant synergistic effect of combining thyme essential oil and honey, achieving the highest inhibition rate of 59% at the 75% concentration of honey and thyme essential oil, compared to individual treatment rates of 28% for thyme essential oil and 31% for honey alone. Microscopy imaging revealed a marked reduction in the density of Candida albicans cells and changes in cell morphology in treated samples, highlighting the effectiveness of the combined treatment in inhibiting biofilm formation.
The combined action of thyme essential oil's antimicrobial properties and the bioactive compounds found in thyme honey suggests a promising strategy for overcoming Candida albicans biofilm-associated infections. These findings support the exploration of natural antimicrobials as alternatives to synthetic antifungal agents, particularly in an era of rising antifungal resistance. Further research, including in vivo studies, is necessary to validate the clinical efficacy of these natural products against multidrug-resistant pathogens. 

Keywords

References

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Plant, Algae, and Environment
Volume 9, Issue 3
DOi
September 2025
Pages 23-35

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