Fungal infections make up a growing and significant public health problem. Of the infections
caused by fungi, Candidiasis stands out for its endogenous opportunistic behavior, since it
occurs in host tissues that present compromise of its specific or non-specific defense systems
The constant emergence of strains resistant to the main conventional antifungals has led
researchers to race in search of new effective and safe alternatives. Therefore, important studies
related to the antifungal activity of products of plant origin have shown promising results in the
discovery of active principles that can be used in the treatment of infections caused by
microorganisms, among them fungi. The objective of the research was to determine the
chemical composition and to evaluate the anti-candida potential of the essential oil of Lippia
origanoides Kunth. The chemical composition of the essential oil of L. origanoides was
determined by means of the GC-EM (Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry) technique,
presenting carvacrol (47.2%) and thymol (12.8%) as the main volatile compounds. To evaluate
the anti-Candida potential of L. origanoides, two methodologies were used: disc diffusion in
agar and microdilution in broth. The essential oil of L. origanoides was tested against 3 yeast
strains: Candida albicans, C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis, showing efficacy in the inhibition
of growth of the three strains evaluated, with inhibition halos ranging from 44.1 ± 0, 3, 30.6 ±
0.2 and 24.0 ± 0.1 mm in diameter, respectively. The MICs (Minimal Inhibitory Concentration)
were determined in 0.62 μl / mL against C. albicans, 0.30 μl / mL against C. tropicalis and 0.18
μl / mL against C. parapsilosis. Fluconazole, revealed MIC values of 0.125 for C. albicans and
C. tropicalis, and 0.010 for C. parapsilosis. Thus, it is observed that the essential oil of L.
origanoides showed activity against three strains of Candida, and that its ability to decrease or
eliminate the microorganism depends on the concentration tested.
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