M. M. Oliva

In vitro activity of natural phenolic compounds against fluconazole-resistant Candida species: a quantitative structure–activity relationship analysis

To evaluate the antifungal activity and to analyse the structure–activity relationship of eleven natural phenolic compounds against four Candida species which are resistant to fluconazole.

Antimicrobial Activity and Composition of Hyptis mutabilis Essential Oil

ABSTRACT An analysis of the hydrodistilled essential oil from fresh aerial parts of Hyptis mutabilis (Rich) Briq. by GC/MS resulted in the identification of 24 compounds that represented 95.5 percent of the oil. The main constituents of the oil were E-caryophyllene (14.7%), spathulenol (14.2%) and germacrene D (11.1%). The oil exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against Mucor sp.

Variation in the Essential Oil Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Baccharis spartioides (H. et A.) J. Rimy from Three Regions of Argentina.

Abstract Hydrodistilled oils of Baccharis spartioides from three populations of Argentina (Northwest, Central and Patagonia areas) were analyzed by using GC and GC/MS. Thirty-nine compounds were identified in the oils and a relatively high variation in their contents and in their antimicrobial activity was found. The main constituents of the oils were camphor (26.5–50%), limonene (4.3–35.8%), citronellal (12%), carvone (10%) and spathulenol (2.1–11.8%). The oil was tested against ten Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and against the yeast Candida albicans. The best antimicrobial activity of the oils of B. spartioides was against S. aureus and B. cereus while P. aeruginosa was the most resistant bacteria to all the oils.

Essential oil of cymbopogon winterianus jowitt from Tanzania: Composition and antimicrobial activity

Abstract The hydro-distilled essential oil (1.6%) of fresh aerial parts of wild Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt was analyzed by GC-MS. Fifty compounds representing 96.5% of the oil were identified. The main components of the oil were linalool (27.4%), citronellol (10.9%), geraniol (8.5%), α-calacorene, cis-calamenene (4.3%), β-elemene (3.9%) and longifolene (3.5%). The oil exhibited low antimicrobial activity.

Natural Products as Alternative Treatments for Candida Species Resistant to Conventional Chemotherapeutics

Abstract The genus Candida comprises more than 200 species, but few of them have been associated with human infections. C. albicans is the most important cause of disease. Other species such as C. dubliniensis , C. glabrata , C. guilliermondii , C. krusei , C. parapsilosis , and C. tropicalis are also being increasingly recognized as significant human pathogens. In recent years, the number of clinical infections caused by Candida species worldwide has risen considerably, and the incidence of resistance to traditional antifungal therapies is also increasing. There is an exigent need for novel antifungal remedies, and plants remain a vital source of these new substances, especially in low-resource countries. Natural compounds are potential antimycotic agents either in their nascent form or as template structures for more effective derivatives. The data and studies described in this chapter document the antimicrobial activity of plant extracts and essential oils against Candida species and show that medicinal plants can be a rich source of potential antifungal compounds.

Essential oil of Rynchosia minima DC. from Kenya : Composition and antibacterial properties

Abstract The hydrodistilled essential oil (yield, 0.1%) of semi-dried leaves of Rynchosia minima DC. was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Twenty-four compounds representing 95.9% of the oil were identified. The major components were found to be β-caryophyllene (30.4%), germacrene B (17.9%), camphor (7.8%), α-humulene (7.4%) and γ-muurolene (7.3%). The oil was found to exhibit antibacterial activity against Bacillus cerus, Staphylococcus aureus and Micrococcus luteus.