In vitro antifungal activities of leaf extracts of Lippia alba (Verbenaceae) against clinically important yeast species.

Graziela Teixeira De Oliveira,Luciana Alves Rodrigues Dos Santos Lima,Ezequias Pessoa De Siqueira,Jaqueline Maria Siqueira Ferreira,Susana Johann,Luiz Henrique Rosa

doi:10.1590/0037-8682-0008-2013

Abstract

There are few studies reporting the antifungal activities of Lippia alba extracts. A broth microdilution assay was used to evaluate the antifungal effects of Lippia alba extracts against seven yeast species of Candida and Cryptococcus. The butanol fraction was investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The butanol fraction showed the highest activity against Candida glabrata. The fraction also acted synergistically with itraconazole and fluconazole against C. glabrata. The dominant compounds in the butanol fraction were 2,2,5-trimethyl-3,4-hexanedione, 3,5-dimethyl-4-octanone and hexadecane. The butanol fraction may be a good candidate in the search for new drugs from natural products with antifungal activity.

Highlights

There are few studies reporting the antifungal activities of Lippia alba extracts
The antifungal effect of the ethanol extract and fractions of L. alba was screened against seven yeast species of clinical interest at a concentration of 2,000μg/mL (Figure 1)
The butanol fraction showed the highest activity against C. glabrata, with a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 62.5μg/ mL, and was active against the other yeast species tested, C. albicans, C. krusei, C. gattii and C. neoformans

Summary

Introduction

There are few studies reporting the antifungal activities of Lippia alba extracts. Methods: A broth microdilution assay was used to evaluate the antifungal effects of Lippia alba extracts against seven yeast species of Candida and Cryptococcus. The extract and fractions obtained from the leaves of L. alba were evaluated in respect to their antifungal activities against seven clinically important yeast species. The antifungal effect of the ethanol extract and fractions of L. alba was screened against seven yeast species of clinical interest at a concentration of 2,000μg/mL (Figure 1).

Results

Conclusion