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SYNERGISTIC EFFECTS OF FLUCONAZOLE AND ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS ESSENTIAL OIL AGAINST CANDIDA SPP. STRAINS

MARINA IONELA NEDEA (ILIE) 1, IOANA-CRISTINA MARINAȘ 2*, MIHAELA BULEANDRA 3, DANA MARIA MUNTEAN 4, SILVIU CONSTANTIN BĂDOIU 1, MĂDĂLINA SOLOMON 1,5, OANA POPESCU 5, DRAGOȘ ȘERBAN 1, ANA MARIA DASCĂLU 1, CORNELIU TUDOR 1, ANDREEA LETIȚIA ARSENE 1,5, BRUNO ȘTEFAN VELESCU 1, IRINA GHEORGHE-BARBU 2,6

1 “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 37 Dionisie Lupu Street, 020021, Bucharest, Romania
2 The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB), 050095, Bucharest, Romania
3 Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bucharest, 90-92 Panduri Avenue, 050663, Bucharest, Romania
4 Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Victor Babeș Street, 400012, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
5 “Marius Nasta” Pneumophthisiology Institute, 90 Viilor Road, 050159, Bucharest, Romania
6 Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 1-3 Intrarea Portocalelor, 060101, Bucharest, Romania

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This study investigated the antifungal activity of Rosmarinus officinalis L. essential oil (EO) against selected Candida spp. strains with particular emphasis on its synergistic effect in combination with fluconazole. GC-MS analysis identified eucalyptol, camphor and borneol as the major constituents of the EO, all known for their antifungal properties. EO demonstrated significant inhibitory effects on fungal growth and adherence capacity to inert substratum, key factors in biofilm formation, virulence and pathogenicity. All tested strains exhibited resistance to fluconazole, however, the combination of rosemary EO and fluconazole showed strong synergistic effects against all Candida auris strains. These results indicate that R. officinalis EO enhances the antifungal efficiency of fluconazole. Stability assessment confirmed the chemical compatibility of the EO- fluconazole mixture under different storage conditions. The findings support the potential use of rosemary EO as an effective adjuvant in antifungal therapy, especially against multidrug-resistant Candida strains.