title: Essential Oil of Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle: A Strategy to Combat Fungal Infections Caused by Candida Species.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The incidence of fungal infections, especially those caused by Candida yeasts, has increased over the last two decades. However, the indicated therapy for fungal control has limitations. Hence, medicinal plants have emerged as an alternative in the search for new antifungal agents as they present compounds, such as essential oils, with important biological effects. Published data demonstrate important pharmacological properties of the essential oil of Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle; these include anti-tumor, anti-nociceptive, and antibacterial activities, and so an investigation of this compound against pathogenic fungi is interesting.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition and biological potential of essential oil (EO) obtained from the leaves of C. nardus focusing on its antifungal profile against Candida species.
  
  
  METHODS
  The EO was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Testing of the antifungal potential against standard and clinical strains was performed by determining the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), time-kill, inhibition of Candida albicans hyphae growth, and inhibition of mature biofilms. Additionally, the cytotoxicity was investigated by the IC50 against HepG-2 (hepatic) and MRC-5 (fibroblast) cell lines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to the chemical analysis, the main compounds of the EO were the oxygen-containing monoterpenes: citronellal, geranial, geraniol, citronellol, and neral. The results showed important antifungal potential for all strains tested with MIC values ranging from 250 to 1000 μg/mL, except for two clinical isolates of C. tropicalis (MIC > 1000 μg/mL). The time-kill assay showed that the EO inhibited the growth of the yeast and inhibited hyphal formation of C. albicans strains at concentrations ranging from 15.8 to 1000 μg/mL. Inhibition of mature biofilms of strains of C. albicans, C. krusei and C. parapsilosis occurred at a concentration of 10× MIC. The values of the IC50 for the EO were 96.6 μg/mL (HepG-2) and 33.1 μg/mL (MRC-5).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As a major virulence mechanism is attributed to these types of infections, the EO is a promising compound to inhibit Candida species, especially considering its action against biofilm.
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rodovia Araraquara-Jaú, km. 01, Araraquara, 14800-903 São Paulo, Brazil. luciani.gaspar.toledo@gmail.com.
authors: Luciani Gaspar
authors: LG
authors: De Toledo
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rodovia Araraquara-Jaú, km. 01, Araraquara, 14800-903 São Paulo, Brazil. matheusramos_91@hotmail.com.
authors: Matheus Aparecido Dos Santos
authors: MA
authors: Ramos
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rodovia Araraquara-Jaú, km. 01, Araraquara, 14800-903 São Paulo, Brazil. lari_sposito@hotmail.com.
authors: Larissa
authors: L
authors: Spósito
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, 15090-000 São Paulo, Brazil. elza.maria.castilho@gmail.com.
authors: Elza Maria
authors: EM
authors: Castilho
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rodovia Araraquara-Jaú, km. 01, Araraquara, 14800-903 São Paulo, Brazil. fernandopavan@fcfar.unesp.br.
authors: Fernando Rogério
authors: FR
authors: Pavan
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rodovia Araraquara-Jaú, km. 01, Araraquara, 14800-903 São Paulo, Brazil. ericaoliveir@bol.com.br.
authors: Érica De Oliveira
authors: Éde O
authors: Lopes
authors: Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Embrapa Tropical Agroindustry, 60511-110 Fortaleza, Brazil. guilherme.zocolo@embrapa.br.
authors: Guilherme Julião
authors: GJ
authors: Zocolo
authors: Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Embrapa Tropical Agroindustry, 60511-110 Fortaleza, Brazil. alinynunes@outlook.com.
authors: Francisca Aliny Nunes
authors: FA
authors: Silva
authors: Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Embrapa Tropical Agroindustry, 60511-110 Fortaleza, Brazil. tigressa.rodrigues@embrapa.br.
authors: Tigressa Helena
authors: TH
authors: Soares
authors: Department of Natural Active Principles and Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Araraquara, 14800-903 São Paulo, Brazil. santosag@fcfar.unesp.br.
authors: André Gonzaga
authors: AG
authors: Dos Santos
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rodovia Araraquara-Jaú, km. 01, Araraquara, 14800-903 São Paulo, Brazil. bauabtm@fcfar.unesp.br.
authors: Taís Maria
authors: TM
authors: Bauab
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, 15090-000 São Paulo, Brazil. margarete@famerp.br.
authors: Margarete Teresa Gottardo
authors: MT
authors: De Almeida
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002175:Candida / Q000187:drug effects*; D031743:Cymbopogon / Q000737:chemistry*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D025301:Hyphae / Q000187:drug effects; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D009822:Oils, Volatile
keywords: Candida; Cymbopogon nardus; antifungal activity; essential oil; gas chromatography