ACTIVIDAD ANTIMICÓTICA DEL ACEITE ESENCIAL DE LAS HOJAS DE Minthostachys mollis (MUÑA) COMPARADO CON EL FLUCONAZOL EN CULTIVO DE Candida albicans

Objective. - Demonstrate the antifungal effect of essential oil from leaves Minthostachys mollis (muna) compared to fluconazole in Candida albicans culture. Materials and Methods. - Experimental study. The antifungal effect was studied by measuring 80 inhibition zones divided into 5 groups using the Kirby-Bauer method. We used a clinical isolate of Candida albicans. The study groups were grouped as follow: “muna” 25% (GM25%), group “muna” 50% (GM50%), group “muna” 100% (GM100%), a positive control group (fluconazole) and a negative control group (mineral oil). Statistical analysis was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn test using SPSS v.17.0. The level of significance was 0.05). Conclusion. - The essential oil from the leaves of Minthostachys mollis (100%) was more effective against Candida albicans than fluconazole, in addition, the antifungal effect of fluconazole was greater than Minthostachys mollis 25%, and was the same that Minthostachys mollis 50%.