Use of caryophyllene oxide as an antifungal agent in an in vitro experimental model of onychomycosis

Caryophyllene oxide, an oxygenated terpenoid, well known as preservative in food, drugs and cosmetics, has been tested in vitro as an antifungal again st dermatophytes. Its antifungal activity has been compared to ciclopiroxol amine and sulconazole, commonly used in onychomycosis treatment and chosen because of their very different chemical structures. So, a new model has be en tested, utilizing sheep hoof plates in order to simulate human nails, wh ich are almost unobtainable for in vitro tests. Three protocols were utiliz ed: pre-treatment. simultaneous treatment and post-treatment. Among these, the post-treatment method was the best to simulate antifungal therapy. as i t permitted testing and comparing the efficiency of different antifungal dr ugs.