Antifungal Activity of Ozonized Olive Oil (Oleozone)

The effect of ozonized olive oil (Oleozone) on some pathogenic fungi (Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum canis & Trichophyton rubrum), were tested. The olive oil was ozonized at Ozomaxe, Egypt, OZO3 VTT Cairo, Egypt by an ozone generator. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined by the agar dilution method. Oleozone showed antimicrobial activity against all species analysed, with an MIC ranging from 0.53 to 2.0 mg mL. Candida albicans, Microsporum canis and Trichophyton rubrum were more susceptible to oleozone than other species tested. Microsporum canis showed the minimum decrease in dry weight (0.03 g/100 mL) under oleozone effect. The inhibition effect of oleozone on nucleic acid content was correlated to the extent of fungal growth reaching the lowest value (0.02 & 0.13 mg g dry weight) in Microsporum canis for DNA and RNA, respectively. Application of oleozone leads to a significant reduction in amylase, lipase, keratinase and urease enzyme activities for all tested fungal species.