Fungistatic action of natural oils and fatty acids on dermatophytic and saprophytic fungi.

Testing the inhibitory effects of some natural oils and fatty acids on growth of some of the dermatophytes revealed the high fungistatic effects of clove and peppermint oils. These oils when applied at 1% concentration with 1% tween 80 inhibited growth of the tested fungi seriously. Fatty acids were relatively uneffective and the possibility of including clove and peppermint oils in antidermatophytic drugs were suggested.