Bioactive Compounds and Antifungal Activities of Extracts of Lamiaceae Species

Origanum vulgare L. (oregano) and Rosmarinus officinalis L. (rosemary) are vegetal species belonging to the\r\nfamily Lamiaceae, popularly known as oregano and rosemary. Aromatic plants are used in the treatment and prevention of diseases and in the culinary as\r\nfunctional food in the preparation and conservation of foods. In the chemical\r\ncomposition of oregano and rosemary are present bioactive compounds with\r\nantimicrobial, antioxidant and flavoring effect. Several reports in the\r\nliterature have presented the chemical composition and biological activity of\r\nthe essential oils of oregano and rosemary. However, few studies have been\r\ncarried out regarding the chemical composition and biological potential of the\r\naqueous and ethanolic extracts of Origanum vulgare L. and Rosmarinus officinalis L.\r\nEvidencing a need to investigate the chemical composition and antifungal\r\nactivity of these extracts. The objective of\r\nthe study was to evaluate the bioactive compounds and antifungal activity of\r\nthe aqueous and ethanolic extract of Origanum vulgare L. and Rosmarinus officinalis L. The aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Origanum vulgare L. and Rosmarinus officinalis L. present in the\r\nchemical composition phenolic acids and flavonoids. The antifungal test of the\r\naqueous and ethanolic extract of Origanum vulgare L. and Rosmarinus officinalis L. presented antifungal\r\npotential against Candida globosa, Cryptococcus laurentii, Trichosporum assai, Rhodotorula sp., Candida albicans, Kodamaea ohmeri, Saccharomyces and Geotrichum.\r\nAccording to the results obtained in this study, it was concluded that the\r\nethanolic extract of oregano and rosemary present antifungal activity against\r\nseveral yeasts tested, thus proving that these plant species must be carefully\r\nevaluated, aiming at a potential for use as an antimicrobial agent.