Anti-biofilm effect of clove oil against <i>Candida albicans</i>: A systematic review.

Abstract

In recent years, <i>Candida albicans</i> has emerged as a significant opportunistic pathogen, causing various infections, particularly in immunocompromised geriatric individuals. One of the major hindrances in managing <i>Candida</i> infections lies in its potential to develop and survive in biofilms, which demonstrate resistance to conventional antifungal therapies, thereby complicating treatment strategies. While clove oil has shown promising results as a potential antifungal agent, its specific anti-biofilm effects against <i>Candida albicans</i> biofilms remain relatively underexplored. Therefore, there is a need for a comprehensive review to evaluate the existing literature on the anti-biofilm properties of clove oil and its mechanisms of action against <i>Candida albicans</i> biofilms. Such a review will provide valuable insights into the potential therapeutic applications of clove oil in combating biofilm-associated <i>Candida</i> infections. This review will enable us to infer and understand the potential effects of clove oil against <i>Candida albicans</i>. This systematic review aims to determine the anti-biofilm efficacy of clove oil against <i>Candida albicans</i>. This systematic review was registered in 'PROSPERO' (CRD42024524134) and followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The literature searches used Google Scholar, PubMed, and Science Direct databases. All original studies published in English from 2004 to 2023 were included. From 37 studies found online, only four were reviewed. Results showed that clove oil had significant anti-biofilm activity when assessed against <i>Candida albicans</i>. Our systematic review provides insights into clove oil's potential as a therapeutic agent against <i>Candida albicans</i> biofilms. Clove oil also represents a promising avenue for future research and development in managing <i>Candida biofilms</i>.