In vitro antifungal activities of leaf extracts of Lippia alba (Verbenaceae) against clinically important yeast species.

INTRODUCTION There are few studies reporting the antifungal activities of Lippia alba extracts. METHODS A broth microdilution assay was used to evaluate the antifungal effects of Lippia alba extracts against seven yeast species of Candida and Cryptococcus. The butanol fraction was investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. RESULTS The butanol fraction showed the highest activity against Candida glabrata. The fraction also acted synergistically with itraconazole and fluconazole against C. glabrata. The dominant compounds in the butanol fraction were 2,2,5-trimethyl-3,4-hexanedione, 3,5-dimethyl-4-octanone and hexadecane. CONCLUSIONS The butanol fraction may be a good candidate in the search for new drugs from natural products with antifungal activity.