Antifungal analysis of incorporation of the essential oil of Cymbopogon citratus (D.C.) Stapf into polymethyl methacrylate

Análise antifúngica da incorporação do óleo essencial de Cymbopogon citratus (d.c.) Stapf em polimetacrilato de metila

ABSTRACT

Objective:

Evaluated the antifungal effect of the incorporation of different concentrations of the essential oil Cymbopogon citratus (capim santo), into polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) against Candida albicans.

Methods:

Fifty specimens were fabricated and divided into five groups: Group 1, PMMA + 10% essential oil (n=10); Group 2, PMMA + 15% essential oil (n=10); Group 3, PMMA + 20% essential oil (n=10); Group 4, PMMA + 25% essential oil (n=10); Group 5, PMMA (n=10). PMMA powder was mixed with the monomer and the mixture was placed in disc-shaped cavities measuring 15 mm in diameter, 2 mm thick. To evaluate the antifungal activity of the experimental specimens, the standard strain of Candida albicans was tested. After incubation, the colony count of each plate was performed using a digital colony counter, obtaining the number of colony forming units (CFU) and the Kruskal-Wallis test was applied.

Results:

There was statistically significant difference in the CFU count of Candida albicans as a consequence of the addition of Cymbopogon citratus essential oil to PMMA (p < 0.001) and values were significantly higher in comparison with those of all the other groups, when the essential oil was incorporated as incorporated into the PMMA in the concentration of 20%. In the other concentrations, no difference in values was observed in comparison with the Control Group without essential oil of Cymbopogon citratus.

Conclusion:

The acrylic resin with the essential oil incorporated into it in different concentrations provided no effect against development of the genus Candida.

Indexing terms
Cymbopogon; Dental prosthesis; Oral candidiasis