Biological effect of Ocimum gratissimum (Alfavacão) essential oil in Candida spp

Resumo

The use of medicinal plants is a millenarian practice and plays an important role in the development of commercial drugs. Therefore, the present project aimed to determine the antimicrobial activity of Ocimum gratissimum essential oil through the broth microdilution test and evaluate the effect of the essential oil on biofilm formation by Candida albicans. The results showed antifungal activity between 0.25 and 1 mg/mL and decrease of the metabolic activity of C. albicans biofilm between 8-0,5 mg/mL. The essential oil demonstrates antifungal activity against Candida spp. and decreases the metabolic activity of C. albicans when in biofilm formation.