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Journals / Ağrı Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 4 Sayı: 1

In vitro evaluation of the antibacterial and antifungal activities of Calendula officinalis L. essential oil: Potential application in gynecological infections

Calendula officinalis L. uçucu yağının in vitro antibakteriyel ve antifungal aktivitesinin değerlendirilmesi: Jinekolojik enfeksiyonlarda kullanım potansiyeli

Sümeyye Akyüz(Erzincan Binali Yıldırım Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi)0000-0003-1999-7827
Emrullah Akyüz(AĞRI İBRAHİM ÇEÇEN ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-5475-6394
Pages
1–8
Publication Date
2026-02-28
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that marigold essential oil, through its antimicrobial activity particularly against Gram-positive bacteria and Candida species-including C. auris, represents a promising candidate for plant-based antimicrobial approaches, and that its potential for topical gynecological use may be further evaluated in future in vivo studies.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Aim: The increasing rates of antibiotic resistance have intensified the search for alternative therapeutic strategies.
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Key Findings & Data:Materials and Methods: Gram-positive bacteria included Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), and Streptococcus pneumoniae (ATCC 45615); Gram negative bacteria included Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 13883), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), and colistin-resistant E. coli (ATCC 19846).
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Conclusion & Impact:Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that marigold essential oil, through its antimicrobial activity particularly against Gram-positive bacteria and Candida species-including C. auris, represents a promising candidate for plant-based antimicrobial approaches, and that its potential for topical gynecological use may be further evaluated in future in vivo studies.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Calendula officinalis · Disk difüzyon · REMA

Abstract

Aim: The increasing rates of antibiotic resistance have intensified the search for alternative therapeutic strategies. The aim of our study is to determine the antimicrobial activity of commercially available marigold (Calendula officinalis L.) essential oil against seven different standard bacterial strains and three yeast strains. Materials and Methods: Gram-positive bacteria included Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), and Streptococcus pneumoniae (ATCC 45615); Gram negative bacteria included Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 13883), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), and colistin-resistant E. coli (ATCC 19846). Yeast strains tested were Candida albicans (ATCC 90028), Candida parapsilosis (ATCC 22019), and Candida auris (clinical isolate). Antimicrobial activity was assessed using the disk diffusion method and the resazurin microtiter assay (REMA). Results: In the disk diffusion assay, the largest inhibition zone among the bacterial strains was observed in S. pneumoniae (15.33±0.57 mm), while among the yeasts, the widest zone was recorded for C. parapsilosis (17.67±0.57 mm). The antimicrobial effect of C. officinalis oil on Gram-positive bacteria and yeasts was significantly higher than that observed in Gram-negative strains (respectively p<0.01, p<0.001). The lowest MIC values were detected in S. aureus and E. faecalis among bacteria, and in C. albicans and C. parapsilosis among yeasts. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that marigold essential oil, through its antimicrobial activity particularly against Gram-positive bacteria and Candida species-including C. auris, represents a promising candidate for plant-based antimicrobial approaches, and that its potential for topical gynecological use may be further evaluated in future in vivo studies.

Özet

Amaç: Antibiyotik direncindeki artış oranları, alternatif çözüm arayışını yoğunlaştırmaktadır. Çalışmamızın amacı; ticari olarak temin edilebilen aynısefa (Calendula officinalis L.) uçucu yağının yedi farklı standart bakteri suşu ile üç maya mantarı üzerindeki antimikrobiyal etkisini belirlemektir. Gereçler ve Yöntemler: Gram pozitif bakterilerden; Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), Streptococcus pneumoniae (ATCC 45615); Gram negatif bakterilerden Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 13883), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) ve kolistin dirençli E. coli (ATCC 19846) ile maya mantarlarından Candida albicans (ATCC 90028), Candida parapsilosis (ATCC 22019) ve Candida auris (klinik izolat) test edilmiştir. Antimikrobiyal aktivite disk difüzyon yöntemi ve resazurin mikrotitre testi (REMA) ile test edilmiştir. Bulgular: Disk difüzyon yöntemiyle en geniş inhibisyon zonu bakterilerde S. pneumoniae (15.33 ± 0.57 mm) suşunda, mayalarda C. parapsilosis (17.67 ± 0.57 mm) suşunda ölçülmüştür. Aynısefa yağının Gram pozitif bakteriler ve mayalar üzerindeki antimikrobiyal etkisinin, Gram negatif suşlara kıyasla anlamlı düzeyde daha yüksek olduğu görülmüştür (sırasıyla p < 0.01, p < 0.001). En düşük MİK değerleri ise bakterilerde S.aureus ve E. faecalis’te; mayalarda C. albicans ve C. parapsilosis ’te tespit edilmiştir. Sonuç: Çalışmamız, aynısefa yağının özellikle Gram pozitif bakteriler ve C. auris’i de içeren Candida türleri üzerindeki antimikrobiyal etkileriyle, bitkisel temelli yeni antimikrobiyal yaklaşımlar açısından umut vadeden bir aday olduğunu ve topikal jinekolojik kullanım potansiyelinin ileri in vivo çalışmalarda değerlendirilebileceğini göstermektedir.

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Cite This Article

Akyüz, S., Akyüz, E. (2026). In vitro evaluation of the antibacterial and antifungal activities of Calendula officinalis L. essential oil: Potential application in gynecological infections. Ağrı Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi, Cilt: 4 Sayı: 1, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.61845/agrimedical.1838708

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