Abstract
Candidiasis is the most common oral infection in HIV-positive individuals and appears as a result the decline of the immune system, representing a marker of disease progression. The treatment of this condition, however, becomes a challenge since non-albicans species tend to be frequent and more resistant to the most used antifungal agents. Thus, the search for new therapeutic options becomes necessary. The species Lippia thymoides a herbal medicine used is used because it has antimicrobial activity. Thus, this study evaluated the antifungal activity of Lippia thymoidesessential oils, collected in the cities of Feira de Santana and Palmeiras, Bahia, Brazil, in C. albicans and C. glabrata strains isolated from oral lesions of individuals with HIV. Nine fungi of the genus Candida were isolated, identified through biochemical tests. The essential oils were analyzed with respect to the phytochemical aspects by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The minimum inhibitory concentration test was used to assess the antifungal activity. The essential oil from species collected in Feira de Santana city had a contents rate of 2.80±0.80%, while the essential oil from species of the municipality of Palmeiras showed a rate of 4.20±1.71%. The essential oil of Feira de Santana was rich in sesquiterpenes, with E-caryophyllene as the main constituent (27.25±1.96%). In oil of Palmeiras, monoterpenes predominated and the major metabolite was 1.8-cineole (30.35±2.17%), indicating that it is a new chemotype. The results revealed that theessential oils of L. thymoides are not cytotoxic and showed antifungal activity against the different species of Candida when in a concentration of 10%, and may be an ally in the treatment of oral candidiasis.