Avaliação da atividade antifúngica dos extratos etanólico e aquoso de Rhaphiodon echinus Ness Mart. Schauer (Lamiaceae).

Abstract

Candidiasis is a mycosis caused by yeasts of the genus Candida, in which the lesion may be mild, acute or chronic, superficial or deep, and of a very variable clinical spectrum. The excessive and indiscriminate use of drugs leads to the emergence of resistant yeasts.Thus, with the need for the development of new therapeutic alternatives of greater efficacy, the use of herbal phytotherapics appears as an alternative treatment. The present work aimed to analyze the antifungal activity of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Rhaphiodon echinus on strains of Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis and Candida krusei. To perform the tests, the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) methodology was used, through in vitro assays by broth microdilution technique. To perform the technique, a Sabouraud Dextrose Broth (SDB), one of the extracts of R. echinus at different concentrations and the inoculum of the genus Candida, was added to a 96-well plate. Plates were incubated at 37 ° C for 24-48 hours for MIC reading. The anti-fungal nystatin was used as a positive control. As results it was observed that MIC50 of the aqueous extract of R. echinus against the strains of C. albicans and C. krusei was 256 μg / mL. Against the strains of C. tropicalis, MIC50 was 512 μg / mL. The MIC50 of the ethanolic extract of R. echinus against the strains of C. albicans was 256 μg / mL, and against the strains of C. tropicalis and C. krusei the MIC50 was 512 μg / mL. It is concluded that the extracts of R. echinus are effective against the strains of C. albicans, C. krusei, and C. tropicalis, however more studies are necessary to uncover the mechanism of action of the antifungal activity of these natural products.