Objective: The aim of this work was to study the action of essential oils from Allium tuberosum, Coriandrum sativum, Cymbopogom martini, C. winterianus and Santolina chamaecyparissus on clinical samples of Candida spp. isolated from patients with periodontal disease (Research Ethics Committee / Dental School of Piracicaba/UNICAMP 008/2003).
Method: Essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation, fractionated and analyzed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and, assayed as to anti-Candida activity by the microdilution method - Minimal Inhibitory Concentration determination, against planktonic cells of different Candida species and on the C. albicans biofilm. Possible morphological changes in yeasts cells were monitored by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).
Result: The oil of C. sativum was the most active against planktonic yeasts cells, presenting MIC values between 0.007 and 0.5 mg/mL. The crude oil of C. sativum and its fractions were applied on the stages of pre-adhesion and mature biofilm of C. albicans and the best activity was observed to the fraction of this oil at 1.00 mg/mL. The oil chemical analysis revealed three majority compounds which when tested isolately exhibited strong activity against the yeasts. Through the SEM analysis it was possible to observe morphological changes in the biofilm cells of C. albicans due to the oil action.
Conclusion: In conclusion, the essential oil of C. sativum shows a good potential as antimicrobial against planktonic cells and biofilm of Candida species.