Inhibitory activity of hydrosols, herbal teas and related essential oils against filament formation and the growth of Candida albicans.

The antifungal activity of 43 hydrosols, 7 herbal teas and 12 essential oils was determined using Candida albicans as a test organism. All of the hydrosols examined showed more potent inhibition against the filamentous form than the yeast form of C. albicans. In particular, the filamentous form was markedly inhibited by seven hydrosols, of which monarda, santolina and clove water also inhibited the growth of the yeast form. Most of the inhibitory activity of the hydrosols was correlated with that of their respective major components. Poor correlation was observed between the inhibition of filament formation and the growth inhibition of the yeast form among the hydrosols examined, among essential oils and among the major components of hydrosols and essential oils. Seven herbal teas showed moderate or weak activity against the filament formation of C. albicans, but no inhibition against the yeast form.