Are polar extracts and essential oil from Origanum vulgare Linn. (oregano) an alternative against itraconazole-resistant dermatophytes from veterinary cases?

Although the conventional therapy against dermatophytosis is based on antifungal drugs and environmental disinfection, the emergence of itraconazole(ITZ)-resistant dermatophytes has encouraged the search for active compounds, such as Origanum vulgare L. (oregano) essential oil (EO). However, little is known about its effect in polar extracts or the mechanism of action of these extracts and EO. We investigated the antifungal activity of four polar extracts and one EO from oregano against ITZ-susceptible and ITZ-resistant dermatophytes and their action mechanism. Polar extracts were prepared as infusions at 10 (INF10) and 60 (INF60) minutes, decoction (DEC) and hydroalcoholic extract (HAE); EO was purchased. All extracts and itraconazole were tested against Microsporum gypseum, M. canis, M. nanum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and T. verrucosum isolated from cats, dogs and cattle (n = 28), and humans (n = 2) (M38-A2, CLSI). Among polar extract, DEC stood out as antifungal, followed by INF10 and INF60; HAE was little active. For EO, all isolates were susceptible, including ITZ-resistant dermatophytes. EO was selected for action mechanism assays, and acted in cell wall and plasmatic membrane by complexing with fungal ergosterol. By chromatographic analysis, 4-hydroxibenzoic acid was the most prevalent compound in all polar extracts, followed by syringic acid and caffeic acid; luteolin was present only in HAE. For EO, carvacrol was the major compound (73.9%); followed by γ-terpinene (3.6%) and thymol (3.0%). These findings showed that the extract type of oregano has influenced the antifungal action on dermatophytes, highlight EO and DEC, that are promising as antifungal agent, including against ITZ-resistant dermatophytes.