Abstract

OLIVEIRA, Wylly Araújo de et al. Effects of the essential oil of Cymbopogon winterianus against Candida albicans. Rev Pan-Amaz Saude [online]. 2015, vol.6, n.3, pp.21-26. ISSN 2176-6215.  http://dx.doi.org/10.5123/s2176-62232015000300003.

Candida spp. are commensal and opportunistic pathogens virtually present in all humans. Candida albicans is pathogenic for man and became resistant to antifungal agents, therefore it is important in the search of new antifungals. The study aimed to investigate the mechanism of action of Cymbopogon winterianus essential oil against C. albicans. Morphological changes were observed in C. albicans when exposed to several concentrations of oil by microculture technique for yeasts, using agar-rice in moist chamber. Cellular leakage was analyzed after cell lysis by absorbing compounds at 260 nm; it was also assessed the bind of essential oil with ergosterol. C. winterianus essential oil inhibited the formation of pseudohyphae and chlamydoconidia in all concentrations tested, it caused cellular lysis and the minimum inhibitory concentration of the oil in presence of ergosterol increased until eight times, indicating binding to ergosterol.

Keywords : Cymbopogon; Antifungal Agents; Candida albicans.

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