Antifungal activity of the essential oils of plectranthus neochilus (Lamiaceae) and tagetes erecta (Asteraceae) cultivated in brazil

Abstract

In this study, we report on the antifungal activity in vitro of the essential oils of Plectranthus neochilus and Tagetes erecta cultivated in Brazil against fungi that cause dermatomycoses and aspergillosis in terms of their minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC). Our results revealed that the essential oil of P. neochilus displays promising antifungal activity against R. stolonifera (MIC=125μg/mL). On the other hand, the essential oil of T. erecta demonstrated be inactive against the selected dermatophytes (MIC>,000μg/mL). These data suggest that the essential oil of P. neochilus could be a good alternative in the control of R. stolonifera, because there is a great interest in the use of natural antifungal compounds for the control of this fungus.