Journal of Ethnopharmacology 97 (2005) 305–311

Anti-Candida activity of Brazilian medicinal plants

Marta Cristina Teixeira Duarte∗ , Glyn Mara Figueira, Adilson Sartoratto,
Vera Lúcia Garcia Rehder, Camila Delarmelina
Research Center for Chemistry, Biology and Agriculture, State University of Campinas, P.O. Box 6171, CEP 13083-970 Campinas, SP, Brazil

Received 30 November 2003; received in revised form 15 November 2004; accepted 15 November 2004
Available online 5 January 2005

Abstract

Essential oils and ethanolic extracts from the leaves and/or roots of 35 medicinal plants commonly used in Brazil were screened for anti-
Candida albicans activity. The oils were obtained by water-distillation using a Clevenger-type system. Essential oils from 13 plants showed
anti-Candida activity, including Aloysia triphylla, Anthemis nobilis, Cymbopogon martini, Cymbopogon winterianus, Cyperus articulatus,
Cyperus rotundus, Lippia alba, Mentha arvensis, Mikania glomerata, Mentha piperita, Mentha sp., Stachys byzantina, and Solidago chilensis.
The ethanol extract was not effective at any of the concentrations tested. Chemical analyses showed the presence of compounds with known
antimicrobial activity, including 1,8-cineole, geranial, germacrene-d, limonene, linalool, and menthol.
© 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Candida albicans; Essential oil; Ethanolic extract; Antimicrobial activity; Medicinal plants

1. Introduction antimicrobial drugs (Ahmad and Beg, 2001). In addition, it

Medicinal plants have been used in developing countries
as alternative treatments to health problems. Many plant ex-
tracts and essential oils isolated from plants have been shown
to exert biological activity in vitro and in vivo, which justified
research on traditional medicine focused on the characteriza-
tion of antimicrobial activity of these plants (Martı́nez et al.,
1996). Brazil, Cuba, India, Jordan and Mexico are examples
of countries that have a diverse flora and a rich tradition in the
use of medicinal plants for both antibacterial and antifungi-
cal applications (Martı́nez et al., 1996; Navarro et al., 1996;
Mahasneh et al., 1999; Ahmad and Beg, 2001; Rehder et al.,
2004). Similar phenomena are also reported throughout the
world (Grosvenor et al., 1995; Silva et al., 1996; Saxena and
Sharma, 1999; Nimri et al., 1999).
Since plants produce a variety of compounds with an-
timicrobial properties, it is expected that screening programs
for some under-represented targets, such as antifungal ac-
tivity, may yield candidate compounds for developing new
∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +55 19 3884 7500; fax: +55 19 3884 7811.
E-mail address: mduarte@cpqba.unicamp.br (M.C.T. Duarte).
is expected that plant compounds showing target sites other
than those currently used by antibiotics will be active against
drug-resistant microbial pathogens.
Candida albicans is an opportunistic pathogen that can
cause local and systemic infections in predisposed persons,
commonly affecting immunologically compromised patients
and those undergoing prolonged antibiotic treatment (Zhang
et al., 2002). Yet, the information available on plants, par-
ticularly medicinal plants, active against this yeast species
has, until recently, not resulted in effective formulations for
humans or animal use.
According to the literature, the investigation of natural
products active against Candida spp. increased significantly
in the last 10 years, with the investigation of approximately
258 plant species, from 94 families (Duarte and Figueira, in
press).
Many plants from Brazilian biomes, such as the Cer-
rado (savannah), the Atlantic and the Amazon rain-forests,
have been used as natural medicines by local populations
in the treatment of tropical diseases, including leishmania-
sis, malaria, schistosomiasis, fungal and bacterial infections
(Alves et al., 2000). Moreover, many exotic plants were intro-

0378-8741/$ – see front matter © 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.jep.2004.11.016
306 M.C.T. Duarte et al. / Journal of Ethnopharmacology 97 (2005) 305–311

duced in Brazil following colonization, and have been incor- in part, to the restricted dissemination of research results in
porated into folk medicine. Despite the rich flora, only data local/regional scientific meetings and publications.
from about 44 plant species from 20 families are available, In the present study, essential oils and ethanol extracts
including both native and exotic species. This has been due, from 35 species with several traditional uses in Brazil, or
Table 1
Identification, voucher specimen and data on traditional use of the plants studied
Botanical name Family Voucher Origina Plant Preparation/traditional usec,d,e
partb
Achillea millefolium L.* Asteraceae UEC 127.114 E lv I: infusion/used as anti-inflammatory and to treat digestive tract
disorders
Achyrocline satureioides (Lam.) Asteraceae UEC 127.116 N lv I: infusion/used as anti-inflammatory and anti-infective
DC.
Allium schoenoprasum L.* Liliaceae UEC 121.397 E lv, rt I: fresh juice/as an antiseptic used to promote digestion
Aloysia gratissima (Gillies and Verbenaceae UEC 121.393 N lv I: fresh juice/to treat bronchial and digestive tract disorders
Hook.) Tronc.*
Aloysia triphylla (L’Hér.) Britton* Verbenaceae UEC 121.412 E lv E: tincture or essential oil/used as bactericide; applied to skin
treatment
Anthemis nobilis L. Asteraceae UEC 121.411 E lv I: infusion/used as antispasmodic and digestive; also as food
preservative
Artemisia annua L.* Asteraceae CPQBA 1246 E lv E: tincture/applied as disinfectant and antiseptic; I:
extract/antimalarial
Baccharis dracunculifolia DC.* Asteraceae CPQBA 622 N lv E: infusion/used as an anti-infective
Baccharis trimera DC.* Asteraceae CPQBA 1 N lv I: infusion/to treat digestive tract disorders and viral infections
(herpes simplex)
Cordia verbenacea DC.* Boraginaceae UEC112744 N lv E: tincture/used as an anti-inflammatory
Cymbopogon martini (Roxb.) W. Poaceae UEC 127.115 E lv E: tincture or essential oil/used as antiseptic and insect repellent
Watson*
Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt* Poaceae UEC 121.414 E lv E: tincture or essential oil/used as antiseptic and insect repellent
Cyperus articulatus L. Cyperaceae UEC 121.396 N rt E: decoction/used as anti-infective and anti-inflammatory
Cyperus rotundus L. Cyperaceae CPQBA 1252 N rt E: decoction/used as anti-infective and anti-inflammatory
Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E. Br. ex Verbenaceae UEC121413 N lv I: infusion/to treat headaches
Britton and P. Wilson*
Mentha arvensis var. piperita L.* Lamiaceae CPQBA 8 E lv I: infusion/used as antistomachache and anti-vomitive
Mentha piperita L.* Lamiaceae UEC 127.110 E lv E: fresh juice/antiseptic and anti-infective; I: vermifuge
Mentha pulegium L.* Lamiaceae UEC 121.402 E lv I: infusion/used as antiseptic and antitussive
Mentha spicata L.* Lamiaceae CPQBA 9 E lv I: infusion/used as anti-infective, to treat digestive tract disorders
and as diuretic
Mikania glomerata Spreng. Asteraceae UEC 102047 N lv I: syrup/used as anti-infective, anti-inflammatory and
bronchodilator
Mikania laevigata Sch. Bip. ex Asteraceae UEC 102044 N lv I: syrup/used as anti-infective, anti-inflammatory and
Baker bronchodilator
Ocimum basilicum L.* Lamiaceae UEC 121.408 E lv I: infusion/usefulness associated with digestive tract disorders
Ocimum gratissimum L.* Lamiaceae UEC 121.407 N lv I: infusion/used for colds and as diuretic
Ocimum selloi Benth.* Lamiaceae UEC 121.406 N lv I: infusion/to treat digestive tract disorders, expectorant
Origanum x applii Boros* Lamiaceae UEC 121.410 E lv I: infusion/as an analgesic and expectorant
Origanum vulgare subsp. virens Lamiaceae UEC 121.409 E lv I: infusion/as an analgesic and expectorant
L.*
Piper aduncum L.* Piperaceae UEC 127.118 N lv I: tincture/as an astringent and used for digestive tract disorders
Piper marginatum Jacq.* Piperaceae UEC 121.395 N lv I: tincture/as an astringent and used for digestive tract disorders
Piper regnellii (Miq.) C. DC.* Piperaceae UEC 127.120 N lv I: tincture/as an astringent and used for digestive tract disorders
Plectranthus barbatus Andrews* Lamiaceae UEC 121.403 N lv I: fresh juice/used for digestive tract disorders
Stachys byzantina K. Koch Lamiaceae UEC 121.404 E lv E: infusion/used as an anti-inflammatory
Stachytarpheta cayennensis Verbenaceae UEC 121.394 N lv I: infusion/used as anti-inflammatory, antihelmintic and
(Rich.) Vahl antiulcerogenic
Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni). Compositeae CPQBA 72 E lv E: infusion/used as anti-infective (antifungal and antiyeast)
Bertoni
Thymus vulgaris L. Lamiaceae UEC 121.405 E lv I: infusion/used as antiseptic and for digestive tract disorders
Tropaeolum majus L. Tropeolaceae UEC 121.416 E lv I: infusion/as antiseptic and expectorant
I: internal use; E: external use.
a N = native to Brazil; E = exotic.
b lv, leaves; rt, roots.
c Data from Lorenzi and Matos (2002).
d Lust (1983).
e www.rain-tree.com.
∗ Genera or specie presenting anti-Candida albicans activity described in the literature (Duarte and Figueira, in press).
 M.C.T. Duarte et al. / Journal of Ethnopharmacology 97 (2005) 305–311
species whose genera are described in the literature as ac-
tive for Candida albicans, were screened for antimicrobial
activity against Candida albicans ATCC 10231. The essen-
tial oils from active plants were then characterized by gas
chromatography/mass spectrofometrical analyses in order to
identify their major compounds.
2. Materials and methods
2.1. Medicinal plants
A list of the plants studied, including the botanical name,
voucher specimen and data related to traditional use and plant
parts used, are listed in Table 1. The plants were grown in
the experimental field of the Research Center for Chem-
istry, Biology and Agriculture (CPQBA), State University
of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. The plants were collected
from November 2001 to November 2002. Voucher specimens
were deposited at the State University of Campinas Herbar-
ium (UEC), and identified by Dr. Washington Marcondes
Ferreira Neto (curator), or at the herbarium at the CPQBA.
2.2. Essential oil extraction
The essential oils were obtained from 40 g of fresh plant
parts by water-distillation using a Clevenger-type system for
3 h. The aqueous phase was extracted three times with 50 mL
dichloromethane. The pooled organic phases were dried with
sodium sulphate, filtered and the solvent evaporated until
dryness. Oil samples were stored at −25 ◦ C in sealed glass
vials.
2.3. Preparation of ethanol extracts
Dried plant material (10 g) was macerated with 100 mL
of 70% ethanol and submitted to shaking at 200 rpm at room
temperature for 3 h. Subsequently, the extracts were filtered
and the plant residues were re-extracted with fresh 70%
ethanol. The pooled filtrates were concentrated under vac-
uum and stored at 4 ◦ C until further use.
2.4. Anti-Candida assay—minimal inhibitory
concentration (MIC) test
Candida albicans CBMAI 0475 (ATCC 10231) was ob-
tained from the CBMAI (Brazilian Collection of Environ-
mental and Industrial Microorganisms, CPQBA/UNICAMP,
Brazil). The yeast was grown overnight at 36 ◦ C in Sabouraud
Dextrose Agar (Merck) plates, and inoculum for the assays
was prepared by diluting scraped cell mass in 0.85% NaCl
solution, adjusted to McFarland scale 0.5 and confirmed by
spectrophotometric reading at 580 nm. Cell suspensions were
finally diluted to 104 UFC mL−1 for use in the assays.
MIC tests were carried out according to (Ellof, 1998),
using a tissue culture testplate (96 wells). The stock
307
solutions of the extracts and oils were diluted and trans-
ferred into the first well, and serial dilutions were performed
so that concentrations in the range of 2–0.03 mg mL−1
were obtained. Nistatin (Merck) was used as the refer-
ence antimycotic control in the range of 5−60 ␮g mL−1 .
The yeast inoculum was added to all wells and the plates
were incubated at 36 ◦ C for 48 h. Antimicrobial activity
was detected by adding 20 ␮L of 0.5% triphenyl tetra-
zolium chloride (TTC, Merck) aqueous solution. MIC was
defined as the lowest concentration of oil and extract
that inhibited visible growth, as indicated by the TCC
staining (dead Candida albicans cells are not stained by
TTC).
2.5. Gas chromatographic (GC) and mass spectrometry
(GC–MS) analyses
The identification of volatile constituents was performed
using a Hewlett-Packard 5890 Series II gas chromatograph,
equipped with a HP-5971 mass selective detector and
capillary column HP-5 (25 m × 0.2 mm × 0.33 ␮m diame-
ter). GC and GC–MS were performed using split/splitless
injection, with injector set at 220 ◦ C, column set at 60 ◦ C,
with heating ramp of 3 ◦ C min−1 and final temperature
of 240 ◦ C for 7 min, and the FID detector set at 250 ◦ C.
Helium was used as carrier gas at 1 mL min−1 . The GC–MS
electron ionization system was set at 70 eV. A sample
of the essential oil was solubilized in ethyl acetate for
the analyses. Retention indices (RI) were determined by
co-injection of hydrocarbon standards. The oil components
were identified by comparison with data from the literature
(Adams, 2001), the profiles from the Wiley 138 and Nist 98
libraries, and by co-injection of authentic standards, when
available.
3. Results and discussion
3.1. Oil and extract yields
Oil and extracts yields of the plant parts indicated in
Table 1, expressed in relation to dry weight of the plant mate-
rial, are presented in Table 2. Most plants had oil yield below
1% (w/w), and larger quantities were obtained from Mentha
arvensis (0.8%, w/w).
3.2. Anti-Candida activity
MIC results of the oils and extracts obtained from the
plants tested are shown in Table 2. In general, the controls
utilized to evaluate the efficacy of plant compounds are stan-
dard antibiotics as indicated for each microorganism. How-
ever, there is no agreement on the level of acceptance for
plant when compared with standards; therefore, some au-
thors consider only activity comparable to antibiotics, while
others consider even higher values. Aligiannis et al. (2001)
308 M.C.T. Duarte et al. / Journal of Ethnopharmacology 97 (2005) 305–311

Table 2
Essential oil and extract concentration, and MIC results from the extracts tested
Plant speciesa Yield (%, w/w)b MIC (mg mL−1 )b

Essential oil Ethanol extract Essential oil Ethanol extract

Achillea millefolium L. 0.19 61.60 0.25 *

Achyrocline satureioides (Lam.) DC. 0.08 32.70 * *

Allium schoenoprasum L. 0.07 26.30 * *

Aloysia gratissima (Gillies and Hook) Tronc. 0.09 45.90 * *

Aloysia triphylla (L’Hér.) Britton 0.50 20.80 * *

Anthemis nobilis L. 0.22 27.00 0.8 *

Artemisia annua L. 0.15 42.90 1.0 *

Baccharis dracunculifolia DC. 0.35 34.50 * *

Baccharis trimera DC. 0.35 46.40 2.0 *

Cordia verbenacea DC. 0.07 51.71 * *

Cymbopogon martini (Roxb.) W. Watson 0.10 15.80 * *

Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt 0.33 20.90 0.6 *

Cyperus articulatus L. 0.70 48.50 1.6 *

Cyperus rotundus L. 0.15 17.33 0.6 *

Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E. Br. ex Britton and P. Wilson 0.10 32.30 0.6 *

Mentha arvensis var. piperita L. 0.26 29.60 1.1 *

Mentha piperita L. 0.80 26.80 0.6 *

Mentha pulegium L. 0.42 32,00 0.74 *

Mentha spicata L. 0.21 43.60 * *

Mikania glomerata Spreng. 0.32 43.82 * *

Mikania laevigata Sch. Bip. ex Baker 0.05 17.97 0.25 *

Ocimum basilicum L. 0.02 30.00 * *

Ocimum gratissimum L. 0.10 33.00 * *

Ocimum selloi Benth. 0.74 24.00 * *

Origanum x applii Boros 0.18 17.33 * *

Origanum vulgare subsp. virens L. 0.20 42.10 * *

Piper aduncum L. 0.13 35.02 2.0 *

Piper marginatum Jacq. 0.19 32.63 * *

Piper regnellii (Miq.) C. DC. 0.30 27.30 * *

Plectranthus barbatus Andrews 0.12 27.45 2.0 *

Stachys byzantina K. Koch 0.06 28.60 * *

Stachytarpheta cayennensis (Rich.) Vahl 0.03 30.02 0.25 –

Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni). Bertoni n.d. 47.70 n.d. *

Thymus vulgaris L. 0.56 27.00 2.0 *

Tropaeolum majus L. 0.08 46.80 * *

a lv, leaves; rt, root.

b n.d. = not done.
∗ MIC > 2.0.

proposed a classification for plant materials, based on MIC re-
sults as follows: strong inhibitors – MIC up to 0.5 mg mL−1 ;
moderate inhibitors – MIC between 0.6 and 1.5 mg mL−1 ;
weak inhibitors – MIC above 1.6 mg mL−1 . Thus, in our
work we have established 2.0 mg mL−1 as the highest con-
centration, so that only the oils or extracts presenting a MIC
below 2.0 mg mL−1 were considered as having potential an-
timicrobial activity. Therefore, data in Table 2 indicate a
strong activity against Candida albicans for oils of Achil-
lea millefolium, Mikania glomerata and Stachys byzantina
(MIC = 0.25 mg mL−1 ). Aloysia triphylla, Anthemis nobilis,
Cymbopogon martinii, Cyperus articulatus, Cyperus rotun-
dus, Lippia alba, Mentha arvensis and Mentha piperita pre-
sented moderate activity, and the range stipulated as weak
activity was shown by Baccharis dracunculifolia, Origanum
vulgare, Piper regnellii and Thymus vulgaris. As to the stan-
dard used in the tests, the MIC for nistatin was 0.05 mg mL−1 .
All the remaining plants investigated presented a MIC above
2.0 mg mL−1 .
3.3. Chemical characterization of oil constituents
Oils that presented anti-Candida activity at levels below
2.0 mg mL−1 were subjected to GC and GC–MS analyses
(Table 3). The majority of the oil constituents were identified
using the data sources available (Adams, 2001), except in the
case of Anthemis nobilis, where only 40.3% of the oil compo-
nents could be identified. Among the identified compounds,
some were previously reported to have antimicrobial activ-
ity, including 1,8-cineole, limonene and linalool (Mazzanti
et al., 1998), geranial (Araujo et al., 2003), germacrene-d
(Ngassapa et al., 2003), and menthol (Iscan et al., 2002). The
oil components with molecular masses ranging from 202 to
222 g mol−1 , consisted of sesquiterpenes.
 M.C.T. Duarte et al. / Journal of Ethnopharmacology 97 (2005) 305–311 309

Table 3
Identified compounds from the essential oils
Compoundsa RIb ATc AN CM CW CA CR LA MA MG MP SB
␣-Pinene 931 0.17
Camphene 945
Sabinene 971
␤-Pinene 974 0.39 0.38
Octen-4-ol 976 0.46 0.80
6-Methyl-5-hepten-2-one 984 3.63
␤-Myrcene 990 0.74 0.12 0.32
3-Octanol 998 10.09
dl-Limonene 1026 18.75 1.61 1.59 0.47
1.8-Cineol 1028 14.04 0.60 2.34
cĩs-␤-Ocimene
˜ 1034 0.23 1.39
trans-␤-Ocimene
˜ 1044 0.82 0.98
Isopentil butyrate 1068 0.67
Linalool 1101 76.30 51.03
Dehydro sabine ketone 1117 0.61
␣-Camphonelal
˜ 1123 0.83
Nopinone 1133 2.84
trans-Pinocarveol 1135 17.44 0.63
trans-Verbenol 1141 2.10
Isopulegol 1143 0.99 0.61
Sabine ketone 1153 0.95
p-Mentone 1153 12.00
Citronelal 1154 36.24
Pinocarvone 1160 3.68
MW 154 1162 4.72
p-Mentha-1.5-dien-8-ol 1164 7.06
Terpin-4-ol 1174 1.38 2.13 8.00
Menthol 1179 69.77
p-Cimen-8-ol 1185 4.44
␣-Terpineol
˜ 1187 3.37 0.49 1.31
Myrtenal 1193 8.16
Myrtenol 1194 4.61 0.69
Verbenone 1209 19.57
trans-Carveol 1217 2.45
Nerol 1226 6.52
Citronelol 1230 18.43 0.81
Carvone 1240 1.40 23.42
Neral 1240 0.62
Piperitenone 1252 1.39
trans-Geraniol 1254 8.29 6.71 63.46 11.63
Linalil acetate 1262
Geranial 1269 21.77 0.23 0.83
Isopulegol acetate 1274 0.26
Isoborneol acetate 1284
Menthol acetate 1294 6.98
␣-Elemene
˜ 1334 2.24
Citronelil acetate 1352 2.51
Eugenol 1355 1.04
Neril acetate 1364
Ciclosativene 1366 1.79
␣-Copaene
˜ 1370 0.88
Geranil acetate 1382 3.15 1.52 28.83 1.05 0.19
␤-Bourbonene
˜ 1385 0.18
␤-Elemene
˜ 1387 0.91 0.36 0.79 6.83
Ciperene 1393 3.05
trans-Cariophylene 1414 4.94 2.15 1.91 0.42 14.53 2.31
MW 202 1415
␣-Humulene
˜ 1447 0.26 1.87
␣-Patchoulene
˜ 1452 1.34
trañs-␤-Farnesene
˜ 1455 2.84
␥˜ -Muurolene 1477 8.26 1.80 0.47 65.00
MW 204 1477 0.52 2.97
Germacrene-d 1479 41.45 0.44
310 M.C.T. Duarte et al. / Journal of Ethnopharmacology 97 (2005) 305–311

Table 3(Continued )

Compoundsa RIb ATc AN CM CW CA CR LA MA MG MP SB

<AR> curcumene 1481 1.43
MW 204 1487 0.80
Biciclogermacrene 1492 2.63 0.31 9.81
␤-Bisabolene
˜ 1509 4.18
7-EP̃I-␣Selinene
˜ 1515 0.64
met ĩl − ␣-Ionone
˜ 1518
cis-Calamenene 1520
␦-Cadinene
˜ 1520 1.66 1.42
MW 220 1521 2.07
Elemol 1546 7.15 1.97
MW 220 1550
Germacrene-b 1552 1.91 4.14
MW 220 1552 0.56
MW 204 1562 0.53
trans-Nerolidol 1563
Germacrene-d-4-ol 1569 1.30 0.19
Spatulenol 1572 2.61 2.97
MW 222 1575 2.12
Cariofilene oxide 1576 3.70 3.48
Veridiflorol 1589
1-Hexadecene 1592
MW 204 1626 2.88
␥˜ -Eudesmol 1626 1.12
MW 220 1627
3-iso-Thujopsanone 1636 2.81
EP̃I-␣-Muurolol
˜ 1640 2.58 2.06
␤-Eudesmol
˜ 1644 0.77
␣-Eudesmol
˜ 1649
␣-Cadinol
˜ 1651 4.77 3.03
MW = 220 1666
Valeranone 1668 15.42
MW 220 1675
MW 218 1676 13.25
MW 218 1687 15.00
MW 218 1692 21.26
MW 220 1705
MW 220 1715
MW 220 1718
(E.E.) Farnesol 1720 1.57
4-Nonil-phenol 1724
MW 220 1740
MW 220 1753
MW 220 1761
MW 262 1776 5.35
1-Octadecene 1792
Total 75.28 40.30 97.34 95.77 82.00 77.46 90.51 99.08 91.12 97.45 93.64
a MW = molecular weight.
b RI = retention index.
c Results expressed as % of area. (AT) Aloysia triphylla, (AN) Anthemis nobilis, (CM) Cymbopogon martini, (CW) Cymbopogon winterianus, (CA) Cyperus

articulatus, (CR) Cyperus rotundus, (LA) Lippia alba, (MA) Mentha arvensis, (MG) Mikania glomerata, (MP) Mentha piperita and (SB) Stachys byzantina.

In conclusion, the results of the present study indicate that
the essential oils obtained from 13 out of 35 plants commonly
used in Brazilian folk medicine showed anti-Candida activ-
ity. The essential oil of three plants, namely Achillea mille-
folium, Mikania glomerata and Stachys byzantina exerts a
strong activity, at levels of 0.25 mg mL−1 , and will be further
characterized. These results corroborate the importance of
ethnopharmacological surveys in the selection of plants for
bioactivity screening. The results obtained represent a worth-
while expressive contribution to the characterization of the
anti-Candida activity of essential oils and plant extracts of
traditional medicinal plants from the Brazilian flora. Subse-
quently, bio-guided fractionation will be conducted on plants
showing potential anti-Candida activity to identify the active
compounds. Evaluations of the oils against other important
human pathogens are also being conducted.
 M.C.T. Duarte et al. / Journal of Ethnopharmacology 97 (2005) 305–311
Acknowledgements
Research was supported by a grant from FAPESP (SP,
Brazil).
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