Method: The antifungal activity of the products was done in triplicate, with Nystatin as positive control, by the microdilution technique with determination of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC). To define the MIC were used 96-well plates, which were inserted 100μL of Sabouraud Dextrose (SD) broth doubly concentrated 100μL of the emulsion of essential oil and 10μL of fungal inoculums. 10μL of the dilutions corresponding to MIC, MICx2 and MICx4 were sowing in SD agar to determine the MFC.
Result: The essential oil of peppermint (Mentha arvensis) showed MIC=1.250μg/mL and MFC=2.500μg/mL, as well as eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora). However citronella oil (Cymbopogon winterianus) presented MIC= 625μg/mL and MFC=1.250μg/mL. In turn, the positive control (Nystatin) showed MIC=312,5μg/mL and MFC=1.250μg/mL.
Conclusion: All essential oils analyzed showed antifungal potential, especially citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus).