Avaliação da atividade antifúngica de extratos vegetais e antissépticos bucais em Candida albicans

Abstract

Yeasts are opportunistic fungi responsible for most fungal infections in humans and Candida albicans is the most often species associated with these infections. Oral candidiasis is distinguished by high impact and by the frequent use of antifungal drugs, which can lead to the occurrence of resistance and treatment failure for this infection. There is a constant need for research about new agents for the prophylaxis and effective treatment of oral candidiasis. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the potential antifungal effect of extracts of plants Gossypium hirsutum L., Arctium lappa, Equisetum sp. Cecropia pachystachya Trécul. and Pogostemon heyneanus against not adhered cells and biofilm of Candida albicans and evaluation of the effect of the mouthwash Cepacol ® Ice Cool, Cool Mint Listerine ®, Periogard ® and Plax ® Whitening against not adhered cells and biofilms of Candida albicans. The methods used were based on inhibition of cell growth by turbidimetry and for determination of the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of clinical isolates of C. albicans. The results obtained in tests with non-adherent cells were promising with extracts of Cecropia pachystachya Trécul., presenting MIC values between 7.81 and 3.91 mg / mL. The antiseptic Periogard Cepacol ® had the lowest MIC values, between 0.20 and 0.10%; Plax Whitening ® ranged between 1.56% and 0.39% and Listerine ® showed values between 6.25% and 0,39%. Statistical differences (Kruskal-Wallis test, p <0.0001) revealed that the mouthwashes Cepacol ® Cool Ice and Periogard ® showed the best results. Regarding the inhibition of biofilm formation, the mouthwashes MICs were similar, ranging between 50% and 0.20%, with no statistical differences between among them (Kruskal-Wallis test, p = 0.6915).