ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF BRAZILIAN PLANT EXTRACTS AGAINST CANDIDA STRAINS

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the antifungal activity of Brazilian plant extracts against strains of Candida albicans (ATCC289065) – C1, C. tropicalis (ATCC40042) – C2 and C. krusei (ATCC40147) – C3. Methods: The evaluated Brazilian plat extracts were represented by essential oils from Citrus aurantium (orange), Citrus limmom (lemon), Citrus reticulata (mandarin), Xylopia brasiliensis (pindaiba), Campomanesia xanthocarpa (guabiroba), Ocimum basilicum (basil) and Cymbopogon martinii (palmarosa). The antifungal activity of essential oils was determined by agar diffusion technique. Fungal suspensions (1.5 x 106 organisms/mL) were sowed in Sabouraud Dextrose Agar, over which were distributed discs of sterile paper. The specimens were inundated with 20μL of tested solutions and control in pure formulation. The tests were performed in duplicate and Chlorhexidine Digluconate (0.12%) served as control. The inhibition areas of fungal growth, in millimeters, were measured and analyzed descriptively. Results: For C. aurantium, C. limmom, C. reticulata, X. brasiliensis, C. xanthocarpa, O. basilicum, C. martinii and Chlorhexidine the average of the inhibition zones of growth were, respectively: 14.5, 9.0, 11.5, 11.5, 20.0, 30.0, 40.0, 22.0 (C1), 16.5, 8.0, 10.5, 9.0, 36.0, 44.0, 36.0, 26,0 (C2), and 40.0, 8.0, 10.0, 9.5, 18.0, 34.0, 36.0, 22.0 (C3). Conclusions: All products tested presented antifungal activity, highlighting the essential oils from C. xanthocarpa, O. basilicum and C. martinii, with greatest inhibition zones of fungal growth. DESCRIPTORS: Biological products. Oral candidiasis. Products with antimicrobial action