title: Investigation of the antifungal activity of carvacrol against strains of Cryptococcus neoformans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cryptococcus neoformans is the etiologic agent of opportunistic systemic fungal infection cryptococcosis, which affects individuals with compromised immune systems. Thus, natural products research has become important, since monoterpenes such as carvacrol, a promising molecule in the search antifungal agents, have shown significant biological activity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study aimed to investigate the antifungal activity and mode of action of carvacrol against strains of C. neoformans.
  
  
  METHODS
  The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by microdilution method. Minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) was performed by seeding technique on solid media. Studying the mode of action was performed using broth microdilution.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MIC ranged from 25 to 81 μg/mL and the MFC ranged from 25 to 102 μg/mL. Carvacrol bonded to exogenous ergosterol and cholesterol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that carvacrol has antifungal activity against C. neoformans and its mode of action is related to fungal membrane instability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The phytoconstituent carvacrol may eventually become a drug; however, further studies are needed to elucidate its mechanism.
authors.affiliation: a Pós-graduanda em Ciências Naturais e Biotecnologia , Centro de Educação e Saúde , Cuité , Paraíba , Brasil.
authors.forename: Rafaela de Oliveira
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Nóbrega
authors.affiliation: b Centro de Educação e Saúde , Universidade Federal de Campina Grande , Cuité , Paraíba , Brasil.
authors.forename: Anna Paula de Castro
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.affiliation: b Centro de Educação e Saúde , Universidade Federal de Campina Grande , Cuité , Paraíba , Brasil.
authors.forename: Wylly Araújo de
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: c Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas , Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Paraíba , João Pessoa , Brasil.
authors.forename: Edeltrudes de Oliveira
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: b Centro de Educação e Saúde , Universidade Federal de Campina Grande , Cuité , Paraíba , Brasil.
authors.forename: Igara Oliveira
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Lima
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000494:pharmacology; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000187:drug effects*; D000081007:Cymenes; D004875:Ergosterol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000081007:Cymenes; D039821:Monoterpenes; D002784:Cholesterol; C073316:carvacrol; D004875:Ergosterol
keywords: Antifungal activity; carvacrol; ergosterol; fungal membrane