Abstract

CAVALCANTI, Yuri Wanderley; ALMEIDA, Leopoldina de Fátima Dantas de  and  PADILHA, Wilton Wilney Nascimento. Antifungal and antiadherent activity of the essential oil from Rosmarinus officinalis on Candida. Arq. Odontol. [online]. 2011, vol.47, n.3, pp. 146-152. ISSN 1516-0939.

Aim: The objective of this study was to evaluate the antifungal and antiadherent activity of the essential oil from Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) on Candida albicans (ATCC289065) and C. tropicalis (ATCC40042). Materials and Methods: The antifungal activity was determined by means of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC), which were obtained through microdilution and exhaustion techniques, respectively. The products were evaluated at an initial concentration of 72mg/ mL to 0.5625mg/mL. The antiadherent activity was evaluated according to the concentrations of MIC, 2MIC, and 4MIC. Inserted in sterile glass tubes were: one sterile acrylic resin specimen; 2mL of sterile Sabouraud Dextrose broth, 0.2mL of fungal inoculums, and 2mL of the essential oil from R. officinalis at tested concentrations, or sterile distilled water (Growth Control), or nystatin (100.000UI/ mL - Positive Control). The evaluated products were added under two conditions: (1) with the other members of the adherent's device (t=0h) and (2) 24h after the insertion of these components (t=24h). The microorganisms that adhered to the specimens were dispersed, diluted 10 and 100 times in sterile distilled water, and transferred, in triplicate, to Sabouraud Dextrose 4% agar plates. After 48 hours of incubation at 37°C, the number of Colony Forming Units per milliliter (CFU/mL) was determined for each specimen. The Mann Whitney and ANOVA tests (Tukey post-test) were also applied. Results: The MIC and MFC were determined at a concentration of 0.5625mg/mL. When compared to the growth control, the essential oil from R. officinalis inhibited adherence in all concentrations, but with a lower effect than with nystatin. A greater antiadherent activity could be observed for t=24h (p<0.001) and at a higher concentration of the natural product (p <0.05). Conclusion: The essential oil of R. officinalis exerted antifungal and antiadherent activity on C. albicans and C. tropicalis. Greater inhibition of C. albicans and of C. tropicalis could be observed for the concentration of 2.25mg/mL (4MIC) of the essential oil from R. officinalis.

Keywords : Oils, volatile; Biological products; Oral candidiasis; Products with antimicrobial action.