Resumo

LIMA, Igara de Oliveira et al. Antifungal activity from essential oils on Candida species. Rev. bras. farmacogn. [online]. 2006, vol.16, n.2, pp. 197-201. ISSN 0102-695X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-695X2006000200011.

Candidiasis occurs as a superficial or profound fungal infection caused by yeasts belonging to the Candida genus. This infectious has been considered the main mycotic infection in the nosocomial environment. The aim of this study was to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration - MIC of Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume, Citrus limon Risso, Eucalyptus citriodora HK, Eugenia uniflora L., Peumus boldus Benth and Rosmarinus officinialis L. essential oils against Candida albicans, C. guilliermondii, C. krusei, C. parapsilosis, C. stellatoidea e C. tropicalis strains. The antifungal activity assays were carried out by solid medium diffusion technique. C. zeylanicum and P. boldus essential oils showed the most prominent results which inhibited the growth of 58% of the assayed yeasts strains and presented MIC of 4%.

Palavras-chave : Antifungal activity; essential oils; Candida; yeasts; mycoses.