Antifungal and anti-inflammatory potential of the endangered aromatic plant Thymus albicans

Abstract

Thymus albicans is an endemic species of the Iberian Peninsula with a vulnerable conservation status. In an attempt to contribute to the valorization of this species, the present study brings new insights on the antifungal and anti-inflammatory mechanism of action of T. albicans essential oil. The antifungal activity of the oil and its major compounds was assessed for the first time against standard and clinically isolated strains of yeasts and filamentous fungi. The effect on the two major virulence factors of Candida albicans (germ tube formation and biofilm disruption) was considered in more detail. At 0.08 μL/mL, the oil inhibited C. albicans germ tube formation by more than 40% and decreased biofilm biomass at MIC values, thus pointing out its antivirulent potential. The anti-inflammatory activity of the essential oil was investigated on LPS-stimulated mouse macrophages (RAW 264.7) by evaluating the levels of several pro-inflammatory mediators, namely nitric oxide (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). T. albicans oil reduced the production of nitrites, a NO derived sub-product, at non-cytotoxic concentrations of 0.32 and 0.64 μL/mL, by 27 and 41%, respectively. In addition, the iNOS protein levels of essential oil pre-treated cells were reduced by 14%. Overall, the high essential oil yield of T. albicans as well as its bioactive effects at concentrations without cytotoxicity, encourage further studies on the potential pharmacological applications of this species. Furthermore, these results raise awareness for the need to preserve endangered species that may hold relevant medicinal value.

Introduction

Thyme species are among the most important medicinal and aromatic crops in non-tropical environments¹. The medicinal and non-medicinal uses of these plants are mainly related to their volatile extracts. Several Thymus spp. extracts are widely used for the treatment of gastrointestinal, respiratory and skin disorders, and their use is regulated by some entities and agencies, such as the European Medicines Agency², European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy³, German Commission E and World Health Organization^4,5.

Food and flavour industries take advantage of the aromatic and antiseptic properties of thyme essential oils applying them in the preservation of food products and in the production of cosmetics and toiletries⁶. Moreover, due to its aromatic characteristics, thyme is a daily used culinary herb all over the world.

Thymus albicans Hoffm. and Link, popularly known in Portugal as tomilho-alvadio [syn. Origanum albicans (Hoffmans. and Link) Kuntze; Thymus mastichina var. micranthus Boiss.; Thymus tomentosus var. virescens Coss.; Thymus virescens (Coss.) Pau]⁷ is an endemic species to the coastal area of the south-west Iberian Peninsula currently listed as vulnerable (meaning at high risk of extinction) by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species⁸. It can only be found in the region of Algarve in Portugal, and in the provinces of Sevilla and Cádiz in Spain, being presently distributed in disperse and severely fragmented populations with a decreasing trend⁹. The main threats are related to the pressure exerted by mass tourism, agriculture and aquaculture practices.

Thymus albicans belongs to Sect. Mastichina, together with Thymus mastichina (L.) L. subsp. mastichina and Thymus mastichina subsp. donyanae R. Morales ¹⁰. The aerial flowering parts of the plant are traditionally used for the same purposes of T. mastichina subsp. mastichina, mainly for the treatment of oral and pharyngeal inflammation and dermatitis¹¹. Additionally, there is ethnopharmacological evidence of its use as a stomach tonic in Spain¹².

Thymus mastichina is one of the most industrially relevant thyme species, currently employed in the production of cleaning products, perfumes, fragrances, soaps and other cosmetics^13,14. It is widely cultivated in Portugal and Spain, and has an ISO standard (4728:2003) specifying the quality parameters of the essential oil for industrial and commercial uses¹⁵. Several pharmacological activities have been reported for T. mastichina essential oil, including antimicrobial activity^16–19, anti-inflammatory potential^20,21, antioxidant activity^22–24 and cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines^25–27. Due to the similarities between the chemical profile of T. mastichina and T. albicans essential oils, it seems reasonable to assume that both species might possess similar bioactive properties. This assumption is in part corroborated by previous studies showing the antibacterial activity of T. albicans essential oil against Gram-positive bacteria²⁸, its antioxidant activity^29,30, its capacity to scavenge nitric oxide and to inhibit the activity of lipoxygenase in vitro, both commonly used as markers of anti-inflammatory potential²¹. As far as we know, those are the only studies on the bioactive potential of T. albicans essential oil. More studies are needed to further confirm the reported effects and to explore new bioactivities.

In this regard, the present study aimed to investigate the chemical profile, and the antifungal and anti-inflammatory activities of Thymus albicans essential oil from Portugal and its major compounds, concomitantly highlighting the mechanisms of action underlying these effects. These bioactivities were selected taking into account their current relevance in the clinic. In fact, invasive fungal infections are an increasingly important global health burden accounting for 1.66 million deaths every year³¹. While these mainly affect immunocompromised individuals, superficial fungal infections are reported to affect between 20 and 25% of the world’s population, including immunocompetent individuals³². Treatment failure and high relapse rates are mainly correlated with the extensive use of a limited number of non-selective antifungal drugs (e.g. fluconazole, amphotericin B and terbinafine) which leads to off-target toxicity and to the emergence of resistance among the main etiologic agents³³. Chronic inflammation is another factor that contributes to the successful colonization of the host tissues by pathogenic fungi and may impede disease eradication³⁴. Taken together, these facts justify the urgency for therapeutic alternatives, preferentially combining selective antifungal and anti-inflammatory activities.

Results and discussion

Essential oil composition

Prior to this study, several essential oils from T. albicans plants collected in different regions of Algarve (Portugal) were chemically characterized, revealing chemical variability regarding the four major compounds 1,8-cineole (29–43%), linalool (5–25%), α-terpineol (4.5–9.8%) and borneol (2.2–8.0%). The most predominant chemical profile was characterized by high contents of 1,8-cineole and linalool. Therefore, for the present study we selected the sample that better represented the chemical profile of the essential oils from Portuguese T. albicans. This sample was obtained from populations with the same chemical profile growing in Foz de Almargem coastal lagoon in Algarve. The chemical characterization of the obtained essential oil is shown in Table 1.

Table 1.

Composition of the essential oil of Thymus albicans.

RIa	RIp	Compoundsa	%
922	1030	α-Thujene	0.2
930	1030	α-Pinene	1.7
943	1073	Camphene	2.3
964	1128	Sabinene	1.1
970	1118	β-Pinene	1.9
980	1161	Myrcene	0.7
1006	1185	α-Terpinene	0.4
1013	1272	p-Cymene	0.1
1020	1206	Limonene	0.6
1020	1212	1,8-Cineole	40.5
1035	1250	trans-β-Ocimene	0.2
1047	1250	γ-Terpinene	0.3
1050	1459	trans-Sabinene hydrate	0.1
1081	1543	Linalool	25.0
1115	1516	Camphor	3.4
1129	1668	trans-Verbenol	0.1
1142	1667	δ-Terpineol	3.0
1142	1693	Borneol	6.4
1158	1595	Terpinen-4-ol	1.4
1166	1692	α-Terpineol	4.5
1178	1780	Myrtenol	0.1
1210	1764	Citronellol	0.2
1233	1842	Geraniol	0.4
1266	1574	Bornyl acetate	0.3
1359	1755	Geranyl acetate	0.1
1382	1585	β-Elemene	0.3
1411	1590	trans-β-Caryophyllene	0.5
1498	1751	γ-Cadinene	0.1
1526	2070	Elemol	0.1
1557	1968	Caryophyllene oxide	0.4
1569	2072	Viridiflorol	0.2
1579	2025	Ledol	0.1
1615	2153	T-Cadinol	t
1628	2218	α-Cadinol	t
1628	2208	α-Eudesmol	t
		Monoterpene hydrocarbons	9.5
		Oxygen containing monoterpenes	85.5
		Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons	0.9
		Oxygen containing sesquiterpenes	0.9
		Total	96.8

RI^a, retention indices on the SPB-1 column relative to C₈ to C₂₄ n-alkanes. RI^p, retention indices on the SupelcoWax-10 column.

^aCompounds listed in order of their elution on the SPB-1 column; t, traces (≤ 0.05%).

Oxygen containing monoterpenes represented the major fraction of the oil (85.5%). The major compounds identified were 1,8-cineole (40.5%) and linalool (25.0%), followed by borneol (6.4%) and α-terpineol (4.5%). The Total Ion Current (TIC) chromatogram, processed using HP Enhanced ChemStation software, is shown in Fig. 1. Our results are in accordance with the works of Morales Valverde¹⁰ and Salgueiro, et al.³⁵ that pointed out 1,8-cineole as the major compound of T. albicans essential oil from Portugal followed by linalool. Miguel, et al.³⁶ studied the oils obtained from leaves and from flowers, distinguishing the chemotypes 1,8-cineole and 1,8-cineole/linalool.

Figure 1.

Total ion current chromatogram of the essential oil of Thymus albicans.

Thymus albicans essential oil, in the present study, was obtained from the flowering aerial parts with a yield of 2.4% (v/w). Our results are in agreement with the study of Aazza, et al.²¹ reporting a yield of 2.2%. This yield is quite relevant since it is higher than that obtained with industrially relevant species, such as T. vulgaris, T. zygis and T. mastichina, thus highlighting the industrial potential of T. albicans.

Fungal growth (MIC and MLC)

As far as it is known, this is the first report on the antifungal effect of T. albicans essential oil. The oil showed some degree of inhibition against all Candida, Cryptococcus neoformans, dermatophytes and Aspergillus strains tested (Table 2), thus showing a broad-spectrum antifungal effect. Moreover, for the majority of yeast and all dermatophyte strains, MIC values were similar to MLC ones, pointing out a fungicidal effect of the oil. The highest antifungal activity was observed against Trichophyton rubrum CECT 2794 and Epidermophyton floccosum FF9 (MIC and MLC of 0.64 μL/mL).

Table 2.

Antifungal activity (MIC and MLC) of Thymus albicans essential oil and its major compounds (1,8-cineole, linalool, borneol and α-terpineol) against collection type and clinical strains of Candida, Cryptococcus neoformans, dermatophytes and Aspergillus.

Strains	Thymus albicans		1,8-Cineole		Linalool		Borneol		α-Terpineol
	MICa	MLCa	MICa	MLCa	MICa	MLCa	MICa	MLCa	MICa	MLCa
Candida albicans ATCC 10231	1.25	2.5	10	10	5	5	2.5	> 20	1.25	2.5
Candida tropicalis ATCC 13803	2.5	2.5	20	20	5	5	2.5	> 20	1.25	2.5
Candida krusei H9	2.5	2.5	10	10	10	10	5	> 20	1.25	2.5
Candida guilliermondii MAT23	1.25	1.25	10	10	5	10	2.5	2.5	1.25	1.25–2.5
Candida parapsilosis ATCC 90,018	2.5	2.5	10	10	10	10	5	> 20	0.64–1.25	2.5
Cryptococcus neoformans CECT 1078	1.25	1.25	5–10	10	5	5	1.25	1.25	0.64–1.25	1.25
Epidermophyton floccosum FF9	0.64	0.64	5	5	1.25–2.5	2.5	2.5	2.5	1.25	1.25
Microsporum canis FF1	1.25	1.25	5	5	2.5	2.5	2.5	2.5	1.25	1.25
Microsporum gypseum CECT 2908	1.25	1.25	5–10	10	1.25–2.5	2.5	2.5	2.5	1.25	1.25
Trichophyton mentagrophytes FF7	1.25	1.25	5	5	1.25	2.5	2.5	5	1.25	2.5
Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. interdigitale CECT 2958	1.25	1.25	10	10	2.5	2.5–5	2.5	5	0.64	1.25
Trichophyton rubrum CECT 2794	0.64	0.64	2.5–5	5	1.25	1.25–2.5	2.5	2.5	1.25	1.25–2.5
Trichophyton verrucosum CECT 2992	1.25	1.25	10	10–20	1.25–2.5	1.25–2.5	2.5	2.5	0.64	1.25
Aspergillus niger ATCC 16404	2.5	10–20	10	> 20	5	≥ 20	5	> 20	0.64	10–20
Aspergillus fumigatus ATCC 46645	2.5	5	10	10–20	2.5	20	2.5	> 20	0.32–0.64	2.5
Aspergillus flavus F44	5	5–10	20	20	10	≥ 20	5	> 20	0.64–1.25	2.5

^aMIC and MLC determined by macrodilution method and expressed as μL/mL.

Other essential oils with high amounts of 1,8-cineole, such as the ones isolated from Salvia fruticosa, Thymus capitellatus and Thymus mastichina, were previously shown to exert antifungal activity against several fungal species^16,37,38.

Regarding the antifungal activity of T. albicans major compounds, 1,8-cineole, linalool, borneol and α-terpineol, only the later showed a slightly stronger effect than the essential oil. Among the strains tested, C. parapsilosis ATCC 90018, Cryptococcus neoformans CECT 1078 and Aspergillus strains were the most susceptible to α-terpineol with MIC values ranging from 0.32 to 1.25 μL/mL. Also, Hammer, et al.³⁹ demonstrated that α-terpineol was more active than 1,8-cineole against some of the fungi species tested, namely C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, E. floccosum, M. canis, T. mentagrophytes var. interdigitale, T. rubrum, A. niger, A. fumigatus and A. flavus. Although 1,8-cineole had a weak activity, several studies reported synergistic effects of this compound with other monoterpenes⁴⁰. Moreover, this compound has also shown synergistic effects with chlorhexidine, a commonly used antiseptic^41,42.

Candida albicans virulence factors

Among Candida species, C. albicans is the main etiological agent of candidiasis and one of the main causes of hospital-acquired infections⁴³. The pathogenicity of C. albicans is associated with two major virulence factors: germ tube and biofilm formation. The germ tube (filamentation) confers increased resistance to phagocytosis and allows the penetration into deeper layers of the mucosa leading to invasive infections⁴⁴. Biofilms, formed on both implanted medical devices and host tissues, potentiate C. albicans dissemination and increase its resistance to conventional drugs⁴⁵. They act as reservoirs of multi-resistant yeast cells, which upon filamentation trigger resistant systemic infections. Despite the major role of these virulence factors in the pathogenesis of invasive Candida infections, to date, no-specific germ tube and biofilm antifungal drugs are available.

Candida albicans germ tube formation

In our study, T. albicans essential oil was able to strongly inhibit the germ tube formation of C. albicans at concentrations much lower than the respective MIC. At 0.08 μL/mL the oil inhibited germ tube formation by 40.5% and at 0.32 μL/mL a 96.3% inhibition was attained (Fig. 2). These results are quite interesting since fluconazole, a conventional antifungal drug widely used in the clinic, despite inhibiting fungal growth at very low concentrations, is ineffective in decreasing germ tube formation. Indeed, even at concentrations up to 200 µg/mL the percentage of inhibition did not exceed 10% (Figure S1). Conversely, T. albicans essential oil was able to strongly reduce C. albicans germ tube formation at concentrations as low as 0.08 µL/mL.

Figure 2.

Germ tube formation in Candida albicans ATCC 10231 treated with sub-inhibitory concentrations—ranging from MIC to MIC/64—of Thymus albicans essential oil and its main compounds (1,8-cineole, linalool, borneol and α-terpineol). The values are presented as percentage of control (oil-free samples with 1% DMSO (v/v)) ± SEM of at least three independent experiments performed in duplicate. Statistical differences were calculated by one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s post hoc test (*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001).

Regarding the major compounds tested, only linalool could completely inhibit germ tube formation at sub-MIC concentrations (0.64 μL/mL). Hsu et al.⁴⁶ and Zore et al.⁴⁷ also reported the ability of linalool to decrease C. albicans germ tube formation at sub-inhibitory concentrations. The results obtained for 1,8-cineole are consistent with those reported by Pina‐Vaz et al.¹⁶. Moreover, in the same study, phenolic thyme essential oils from T. vulgaris and T. zygis were less effective than T. albicans in inhibiting germ tube formation, although both oils showed better antifungal activity (lower MIC values) against C. albicans.

Disruption of preformed biofilms in Candida albicans

Besides germ tube formation, the pathogenicity of C. albicans is also associated with biofilm formation. In the present study, T. albicans essential oil was assessed for its capacity to decrease biofilm mass and viability (Fig. 3). At MIC values, the oil decreased biofilm mass, while fluconazole had no effect.

Figure 3.

Influence of Thymus albicans essential oil on Candida albicans ATCC 10231 biofilm viability (A) and effect on biofilm biomass after 24 h (B). Each value represents the mean ± SEM of at least three independent experiments performed in duplicate. Statistical differences were calculated by one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s post hoc test (**p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001). The grey bar represents the minimum lethal concentration (MLC) of Thymus albicans essential oil against Candida albicans ATCC 10231.

The main compound of T. albicans essential oil, 1,8-cineole, was shown to inhibit C. albicans biofilms at higher concentrations than the oil⁴¹. Also, other major compounds, namely linalool, borneol and α-terpineol were previously reported to disrupt C. albicans biofilm formation^46,48,49.

Germ tube formation and biofilm integrity in C. albicans are important virulence factors that allow the transition from a superficial mycosis to a systemic infection. Overall, our results show that T. albicans essential oil presents antivirulent potential against C. albicans since it was able to inhibit both of these features. The possibility of targeting virulence factors at non-growth inhibitory concentrations is a promising therapeutic strategy, particularly because it may reduce the toxicity of antifungal therapy simultaneously reducing not only the selective pressure for the emergence of resistance among pathogenic fungi but also the impact on the host’s natural microbiota⁴⁴.

Anti-inflammatory activity

LPS-stimulated mouse macrophages (RAW 264.7) were used as an in vitro model of acute inflammation. Briefly, LPS, a Toll-like receptor 4 agonist and a component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, acts upstream of the NF-κB signaling pathway inducing the phosphorylation and degradation of its inhibitory protein κB (IκB). Once released from inhibition, NF-κB translocates into the nucleus activating the transcription of genes coding for the inducible form of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), two pro-inflammatory enzymes, among others. iNOS catalyzes the synthesis of NO through oxidation of L-arginine and COX-2 the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)⁵⁰.

In our study, the levels of NO stable metabolites (nitrites) before and after T. albicans oil treatment were measured by the colorimetric Griess reaction and used as a parameter to determine the anti-inflammatory potential of the essential oil.

Our results demonstrate that T. albicans oil was able to inhibit nitrites production by LPS-stimulated macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. Importantly, a significant reduction by 27.16 and 41.32%, was observed at the non-cytotoxic concentrations of 0.32 and 0.64 μL/mL, respectively, in comparison with the LPS stimuli (Fig. 4). In an analogous experiment, Zuzarte et al.⁵¹ evaluated the effect of 1,8-cineole on the same parameter, demonstrating that it also inhibited the production of nitrites, however at higher concentrations (2.25 μL/mL). This indicates that other compounds may contribute to the anti-inflammatory activity of T. albicans oil.

Figure 4.

Effect of Thymus albicans essential oil on macrophages viability (A) and nitrites production (B). Cell viability is expressed as a percentage of MTT reduction in comparison to control cells (100% viability). Nitrite production is expressed as a percentage of nitrite production in comparison to cells stimulated with LPS alone (100% nitrite production). Each value represents the mean ± SEM from three experiments, performed in duplicate. Statistical differences between groups were calculated by one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s post hoc test (###p < 0.001, compared to control (B); **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001 compared to control (A) and to LPS (B)).

Mechanism of action: scavenging capacity or gene expression regulation?

To clarify whether the lower levels of nitrites observed after T. albicans essential oil treatment were due to its direct scavenging potential, a reaction between a NO donor (SNAP) and different concentrations of the oil was performed. Since T. albicans essential oil failed to scavenge NO (Fig. 5), we could exclude this hypothesis to justify the reduction of nitrite levels in LPS-stimulated macrophages. In the study of Aazza, et al.²¹, T. albicans essential oil was shown to scavenge NO in vitro, however at much higher concentrations than those tested in our study.

Figure 5.

NO scavenging potential of Thymus albicans essential oil. Different concentrations of essential oil (0.08–1.25 μL/mL) were incubated with SNAP (300 μM) in culture medium for 3 h. Results are expressed as a percentage of NO release triggered by SNAP. Each value represents the mean ± SEM of three independent assays, performed in duplicate. Statistical differences were calculated by one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s post hoc test (###p < 0.001, compared to control).

Another mechanism by which T. albicans essential oil could reduce the nitrite levels is the modulation of genes coding for key enzymes along the inflammatory pathway, namely iNOS and COX-2. Our results show that the expression of both enzymes by LPS-stimulated macrophages was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in comparison to the LPS-free control (Fig. 6), demonstrating the ability of LPS to induce the expression of these enzymes in our inflammatory-like model. Cells treated only with essential oils revealed neglectable levels of iNOS and COX-2 expression, ruling out possible pro-inflammatory effects of the oil.

Figure 6.

Effect of Thymus albicans essential oil on the iNOS and COX-2 protein levels in LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Cells (1.2 × 10⁶ cells/well) were kept 24 h in medium (control) or pre-treated for 1 h with 0.64 μL/mL of T. albicans essential oil and then stimulated with LPS (1 μg/mL). Total cell lysates were analyzed by western blot. Results are expressed as protein levels compared to LPS. Statistical differences were calculated by two-tailed unpaired student’s t-test (###p < 0.001, compared to control; **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, compared to LPS).

At 0.64 μL/mL, T. albicans essential oil inhibited by 13.64% iNOS expression in comparison to the LPS stimulus (p < 0.01). This slight decrease of iNOS protein levels in LPS-stimulated macrophages pre-treated with T. albicans essential oil does not reflect the significant NO reduction evaluated through Griess reaction. It seems that T. albicans essential oil may exert its anti-inflammatory activity also by modulating iNOS activity or by inhibiting other signaling pathways. Further studies should be performed to deeply explore this hypothesis. Regarding COX-2 levels, no significant result was observed, indicating a selective effect of the oil towards iNOS expression (Fig. 6). Uncropped blots are provided in Supplementary Information (Fig. S2).

The anti-inflammatory activity of T. albicans main compounds is broadly reported in both pre-clinical and clinical studies. Accordingly, in a clinical study conducted by Juergens et al.⁵², 1,8-cineole revealed anti-inflammatory activity in patients with severe asthma. Using human cell lines, Greiner et al.⁵³ demonstrated the ability of 1,8-cineole to attenuate the activity of NF-κB, thus decreasing its nuclear translocation and consequently reducing the expression of its target genes coding for pro-inflammatory mediators. Nogueira et al.⁵⁴ showed that it modulates the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by LPS-stimulated macrophages by interfering with NF-κB, p38 or ERK/MAPK pathways. Peana et al.⁵⁵ demonstrated the capacity of linalool to reduce NO production in LPS-stimulated macrophages, although it failed to inhibit iNOS expression. The authors suggested that linalool could possibly act as a scavenger of NO or as an inhibitor of iNOS activity.

Huo et al.⁵⁶ also showed the anti-inflammatory activity of linalool using in vitro and in vivo models. Linalool inhibited NF-kB and MAPK activation in LPS-stimulated macrophages and protected mice against LPS-induced acute lung injury by reducing the production of TNF-α and IL-6. Borneol was shown to decrease the expression of cytokines (IL-6 and IL-8) in human gingival fibroblasts⁵⁷. These studies confirm the contribution of 1,8-cineole, linalool, borneol and α-terpineol to the anti-inflammatory activity of T. albicans essential oil.

Other thyme essential oils rich in 1,8-cineole were previously reported to have anti-inflammatory potential, namely T. mastichina, which was shown to inhibit lipoxygenase activity^21,29, T. hyemalis, which reduced the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL1β, and IL-6) in an inflammatory model of human macrophages stimulated with Cu²⁺-oxidized LDLs⁵⁸, and T. camphoratus (chemotype 1,8-cineole/borneol) that inhibited both iNOS and COX-2 in the same model of LPS-stimulated macrophages used in this study⁵⁹.

Conclusion

Thymus albicans essential oil showed a broad spectrum antifungal activity. The oil was able to inhibit germ tube formation and biofilm integrity in Candida albicans, which are two key virulent factors of this highly prevalent etiologic agent of topical and invasive candidiasis in humans. In addition, at concentrations devoid of toxicity, Thymus albicans essential oil was able to reduce the production of the pro-inflammatory mediator NO. This anti-inflammatory effect was shown to be partly related to the reduction of iNOS levels.

The combination of antifungal and anti-inflammatory effects together with the high essential oil yield (2.4%) and absence of cytotoxicity at bioactive concentrations demonstrate the therapeutic potential of Thymus albicans, an endangered Iberian species. Moreover, the results obtained in the present study corroborate the traditional use of Thymus species as antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agents.

Also, T. albicans revealed higher essential oil yield than other widely marketed thyme species like Thymus vulgaris L., Thymus zygis L. and T. mastichina. It is important to underline that although T. albicans and T. mastichina are both species of the Mastichina section with high content of 1,8-cineole, only T. mastichina oil has industrial relevance, proven by the established ISO 4728:2003 standard¹⁵. Indeed, the bioactivities herein reported confirm the potential of T. albicans essential oil paving the way for further studies on the pharmaceutical applications of this species, which might contribute to improve its conservation status.

Material and methods

Plant material

Flowering parts of Thymus albicans Hoffmanns. and Link were collected at the same time in the area of Foz de Almargem coastal lagoon, Algarve, Portugal. All plants presented a similar stage of development. Voucher specimens were included in the Herbarium of the University of Coimbra (COI), with the accession number Moura 4796. Dr. Jorge Paiva, a taxonomist at the University of Coimbra, confirmed species authenticity and plant names were checked with https://www.theplantlist.org.

Essential oil isolation and analysis

The essential oils from the aerial parts of T. albicans plants were obtained by hydrodistillation for 3 h, using a Clevenger-type apparatus⁶⁰. Chemical analyses were carried out by both gas chromatography (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC–MS) using fused silica capillary columns with two stationary phases (SPB-1 and SupelcoWax 10) as previously reported⁶¹.

The compounds were identified based on their GC retention indices on both columns and through their mass spectra. Retention indices, calculated by linear interpolation relative to the retention times of C₈–C₂₄ n-alkanes (Eq. 1)⁶², were compared with those of authentic products included in the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Coimbra laboratory database and/or literature data^63,64. Acquired mass spectra were compared with reference spectra from the laboratory database, Wiley/NIST library and literature data^63,65. Relative amounts of individual components were calculated based on GC raw data areas without a response factor correction for flame ionization detection.

$$I_a^{\phi }=100z+100\left[\frac{T_{\left(a\right)}-T_{\left(z\right)}}{T_{\left(z+1\right)}-T_{\left(z\right)}}\right]$$ 1

Iφ, experimental retention indices of the analyte “a” in the stationary phase “φ”; z, number of carbons of the n-alkane with the closest previous elution to “a”; T_(z), retention time of the n-alkane with the closest previous elution to “a”; T_(z+1), retention time of the n-alkane with the closest after elution to “a”; T_(a), Retention time of the analyte “a”.

Pure and reference compounds

The following synthetic compounds were purchased: 1,8-cineole (extra pure, Merck, Darmstadt, Germany), linalool (pure, Fluka, Steinheim, Germany), borneol (pure, Fluka, Steinheim, Germany) and α-terpineol (pure, Extrasynthese, Genay, France).

Fungal growth (MIC and MLC)

The antifungal activity of T. albicans essential oil and its major compounds (1,8-cineole, linalool, borneol and α-terpineol) was evaluated against two Candida strains isolated from recurrent cases of vulvovaginal and oral candidiasis (C. krusei H9, C. guilliermondii MAT23) and three type strains (C. albicans ATCC 10231, C. tropicalis ATCC 13803, C. parapsilosis ATCC 90018); a Cryptococcus neoformans type strain (C. neoformans CECT 1078); three clinical dermatophyte strains isolated from nails and skin (Epidermophyton floccosum FF9, Microsporum canis FF1, Trichophyton mentagrophytes FF7) and four type strains (M. gypseum CECT 2908, T. mentagrophytes var. interdigitale CECT 2958, T. rubrum CECT 2794, T. verrucosum CECT 2992); one Aspergillus clinical strain isolated from bronchial secretions (A. flavus F44) and two type strains (A. niger ATCC 16404, A. fumigatus ATCC 46645). The fungal isolates were stored on Sabouraud broth with 20% of glycerol at − 80 °C and previously cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) or Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) to ensure optimal growth characteristics and purity for the antifungal susceptibility testing.

Minimal Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) and Minimal Lethal Concentrations (MLCs) were determined using the macrodilution method, according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines for yeasts and filamentous fungi as described by Zuzarte et al.⁵¹.

Candida albicans virulence factors

Germ tube inhibition

Cell suspensions (1.0 ± 0.2 × 10⁶ CFU/mL) from overnight SDA cultures were prepared in NYP medium [N-acetylglucosamine (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA; 10^–3 mol/L), yeast nitrogen base (Difco, Detroit, MI, USA; 3.35 g/L), proline (Fluka; 1023 mol/L) and NaCl (4.5 g/L), pH 6.7 ± 0.1]. Serial two-fold essential oil dilutions were previously prepared in DMSO [maximum concentration of 1% (v/v)], and added to the inoculum suspensions to obtain a range of test concentrations from MIC value to MIC/64 (1.25–0.02 μL/mL). Oil-free controls with and without DMSO were included. After 3 h of incubation in a static chamber at 37 °C, homogenized cell suspensions of each treatment were mounted onto a Neubauer chamber; 100 cells per replica were counted and visually scored, excluding gemulating cells. The percentage of filamentation was defined as the number of cells in which the size of the germ tube was equal or bigger than the blastopore’s diameter.

Disruption of preformed biofilms

The effect of the T. albicans essential oil on the disruption of C. albicans ATCC 10231 preformed biofilm was investigated following the method described by Alves-Silva et al.⁶⁶. Briefly, a cell suspension of C. albicans was prepared in Yeast Peptone Dextrose (YPD) broth (1% yeast extract, 2% peptone, and 2% dextrose) and incubated for 24 h at 37 °C. A final suspension of 1 × 10⁶ CFU/mL was added to 96-well microtiter plates and incubated for 24 h at 37 °C, to form the biofilms. After three washing steps with PBS, the essential oils (0.16–2.5 µL/mL) prepared in RPMI were added and incubated for 24 h at 37 °C. Negative and positive controls were included using sterile and inoculated RPMI media, respectively.

Anti-inflammatory activity

Cell line and culture conditions

The mouse macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7 (ATCC-TIB-71) was cultured in Dulbecco’s modified eagle medium (DMEM) (Invitrogen, California, USA) supplemented with 10% (v/v) of non-inactivated fetal bovine serum (Invitrogen), 3.02 g/L sodium bicarbonate (Sigma), 100 μg/mL streptomycin (Sigma) and 100 U/mL penicillin (Sigma). The cells were maintained at 37 °C in humidified atmosphere with 5% CO₂ and 95% air. Adhesion, growth and morphological patterns were monitored by optical microscopy. Cells were regularly sub-cultured every two–three days and kept in culture for a maximum of three months.

Cell viability

The effect of T. albicans essential oil on macrophages viability (0.3 × 10⁶ cells/well of 48-well plates) was evaluated by MTT assay, as described by Zuzarte et al.⁵⁹.

Nitric oxide production

The effect of the essential oil on NO production was evaluated by quantifying the concentration of its stable metabolites (nitrites) in macrophages culture supernatants, using the Griess colorimetric reagent, following the protocol described by Zuzarte et al.⁵⁹.

Essential oil’s mechanism of action in LPS-stimulated macrophages

Nitric oxide scavenging potential

The NO-scavenging potential of T. albicans essential oil was evaluated using S-nitroso-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine (SNAP) reagent as a NO donor. The essential oil dilutions in culture medium were incubated with 300 μM SNAP for 3 h in the dark at room temperature. An oil free control was included. Nitrite quantification was performed as described previously for nitric oxide production.

Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2

Western blot analyses were performed to evaluate the influence of the essential oil on the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) on LPS-stimulated macrophages. Total cell lysates, protein concentration determination and western blot analysis were performed according to Zuzarte et al.⁵⁹. Membranes were revealed using a Typhoon FLA 9000 fluorescence reader (GE Healthcare, Chicago, IL, USA) and protein bands were measured by densitometric analysis using TotalLab TL120 (TotalLab, Newcastle, UK).

Statistical analyses

The results are expressed as mean ± SEM of three independent experiments performed in duplicate. Differences between groups were calculated using one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s post hoc test or t-test, using GraphPad Prism v7.0a for Mac OS X.

Author contributions

M.R., M.Z., M.G. and J.S. performed experiments and analyzed data. C.C. performed GC and GC–MS analysis. M.R. made the literature review and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. M.Z. and M.C. reviewed the manuscript. L.S. supervised the work and reviewed the manuscript.

Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available upon request from the corresponding author, MZ.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Supplementary information

is available for this paper at 10.1038/s41598-020-75244-w.