Green synthesis of copper nanoparticles using carvacrol extract and investigation of its antifungal properties: Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis, an in vitro study

The aim of this study was to investigate the antifungal effects of the combination of carvacrol and biosynthesized CuO NPs with the aqueous extract of Satureja khuzestanica plant against Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis fungi. Four different modes were used to investigate the effect of fungi inactivation, aqueous extract of Khuzestan savory plant alone, synthesizing CuO NPs green, Carvacrol 98%, and composition of green CuO NPs and carvacrol 98%. In order to reduce environmental degradation effects, a simple and green approach for preparation and synthesis of nanoparticles was used. Different concentration of substances produced was applied to investigate the antifungal effects on fungal pathogens namely Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis. In this study, Time-Kill Curve Assay were determined for the experiments. Also, the studied concentrations were 1/2MIC, MIC, 2MIC, 4MIC, and 8MIC. According to the obtained results, CuO NPs were spherical in shape and almost uniform in size, with an average diameter of 70 nm. The lowest concentration of MIC and MFC was observed in combined disinfectants Carvacrol 98%+CuO NPs. In this combination, Candida tropicalis, the concentration of MIC and MFC was equal to 31 ± 25 and 52.08 ± 18.04 µg/mL, respectively. Satureja khuzestanica + CuO NPs and Carvacrol 98% was strength in Candida tropicalis in all the investigated concentrations, e.g. MIC, 2MIC, and 4MIC.