Research Projects

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing concern globally, affecting humans and animals due to the increasing number of infections caused by bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses. This resistance has led to antibiotic tolerance in both bacterial and fungal species, necessitating the development of a new alternative method for treating multiple drug resistance (MDR). Combinational therapy, which involves using essential oil/phytocompounds and antibiotics, is a growing technique used to treat MDR. Candidiasis, a fungal disease affecting 57,251,328 Indians, is a serious infection, with 21% suffering from Candida albicans infection. Fungus develops mechanisms to hinder the effects of antifungal antibiotics, including target overexpression, targets alteration, drug sequestration, enhanced drug efflux, and blocking antifungal drug entry. In a doctoral research study, the synergistic activity of Thymus serpyllum and Cymbopogon citratus essential oil and their active phytocompounds was studied against bacterial and fungal strains. The study found that Thymus serpyllum essential oil and its active phytocompound (Thymol) showed good antifungal activity compared to antibacterial activity alone or in combination with antifungal antibiotics (Fluconazole and amphotericin B). The four active ingredients in Thymus serpyllum's essential oil were identified for antifungal activity. The current study aims to develop an add-on therapy-based hydrogel formulation to cure Candida albicans infections more effectively in an experimental animal model. The hydrogel will be prepared using T. serpyllum essential oil and its active phytoconstituent thymol alone or in combination with antifungal antibiotics, with the mixing ratio selected based on previous research.