In vitro Antifungal Activity of Irlbachia purpurascens, Lantana macrophylla and Kielmeyera neglecta Extracts Against Candida Isolates Collected from Patients with Vulvovaginal Candidiasis

摘要

Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (VVC) is one of the major infections that affect the female genital system, causing discomfort. The most commonly used antifungals bring severe adverse reactions and exposure to them favors the establishment of the phenomenon of resistance. Therefore, it is necessary to search for new compounds with potential antifungal, lower toxicity and cost. The Brazilian ecosystems have been investigated as to their natural potential and the Atlantic Forest has great wealth to be exploited in the search for antimicrobial substances. The aim of this work was to evaluate the in vitro antifungal activity of the Atlantic Forest native species Irlbachia purpurascens (Gentianaceae), Lantana macrophylla (Verbenaceae) and Kielmeyera neglecta (Clusiaceae) ethanolic extracts, against yeast of the Candida genus, isolated from the cervicovaginal region of women with VVC. To evaluate the antifungal activity of the extracts, agar diffusion and broth microdilution techniques were used. By broth microdilution technique, the three ethanolic extracts presented fungistatic antifungal activity. The activity of K. neglecta extract against C. krusei isolates was considered statistically significant and the decreasing order of activity of extracts was: K. neglecta, L. macrophylla and I. purpurascens. The antifungal activity detected on these plants species showed potential applicability for medicinal drugs development.