Antifungal activity of the essential oil of Mentha x piperita

Abstract

The in vivo evaluation of toxicological and antifungal activity of the Mentha x piperita L. essential oils and menthol was made on 2-month-old male Wistar rats. We examined the therapeutic potency against experimentally induced dermatomycoses in rats using the most frequent dermatomycetes, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T. rubrum, and T. tonsurans. The therapeutic efficacy of 1% solution of essential oil and menthol, as well as commercial preparation bifonazole, was evaluated. During the 36-day observation period, the oil-treated animals were cured completely. © 2006 Informa Healthcare.