Antifungal activity of natural compounds against Candida species isolated from HIV-positive patients

Objective: To evaluate the antifungal effect of Cinnamomum zeylanicum (C. zeylanicum) and Melaleuca alternifolia essential oils and honey against strains of Candida sp. from HIV-positive patients in order to subsidize new therapeutic strategies for candidiasis. Methods: The study evaluated the antifungal effect of natural antimicrobials against 30 strains of Candida sp. isolated from oral cavities in HIV-infected patients. Then, they were compared to the action of fluconazole and amphotericin B. Antifungal susceptibility was evaluated by the broth macrodilution technique and the minimum inhibitory concentration and the minimum fungicidal concentration were determined. Results: Among all antifungals evaluated in this study, amphotericin B was the one showing the best results; however, all compounds studied here showed inhibitory activities against isolates of Candida sp. Honey (0.0313–64 μg/mL) demonstrated fungistatic activity inhibiting 70% of the isolates. C. zeylanicum essential oil (0.0313–64 μg/mL) inhibited 93.3% of the Candida strains and Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil (0.0313–64 μg/mL) was able to inhibit 73.3% of them. Conclusions: Therefore, all natural compounds evaluated in this study, especially C. zeylanicum essential oil, may become promising agents for oral candidiasis therapy including in HIV-positive patients.