Antifungal activity of Myrrh gum resin against pathogenic Candida spp.

Introduction and objective: Medicinal plants have a long and significant history of being used for their healing properties. One famous example is Commiphora, which is mostly found in the southern part of Arabia. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a water-based extract obtained from two different varieties of myrrh in suppressing the proliferation of Candida spp. at different concentrations.

Material and methods: The inhibitory activity of the aqueous extract of two different varieties of myrrh, commonly used in traditional medicine, was assessed against five pathogenic yeasts using the diffusion technique. Mass spectrum was used to analyze myrrh's chemical composition for antimicrobial effects.

Results: The aqueous extract of both tested species of myrrh (Commiphora myrrha and Commiphora molmol) showed inhibitory effects on all tested isolates. During the chemical examination of myrrh, it was noted that the material included 12 components known for their antimicrobial properties. The essential oil derived from two varieties of myrrh showed the most significant effects on Candida tropicalis (ATCC 66029), Candida guilliermondii (ATCC 6260), Candida laurentii (ATCC 18803), Candida neoformans (ATCC 66031), and Candida albicans (ATCC 14053). Analysis of chemical composition of the myrrh revealed 19 known components, of which 12 compounds have been proven by research to suppress the growth of microorganisms.

Conclusions: C. myrrha and C. molmol aqueous extracts exhibit a promising antifungal effect against common Candida infections. The aqueous extracts present a variety of antimicrobial compounds; however, further research is necessary to elucidate the specific mechanisms of action of these compounds, and to evaluate their efficacy, toxicity and safety before considering their clinical application.