Abstract

SALAS-APAZA, Alex Mario. In vitro inhibition of Candida spp., strains by wild mountain mint essential oil: A traditional medicinal plant in the high Andean regions of Peru. J. Selva Andina Res. Soc. [online]. 2024, vol.15, n.2, pp.90-99.  Epub Aug 30, 2024. ISSN 2072-9294.  https://doi.org/10.36610/j.jsars.2024.150200090.

Medicinal plants have been used for centuries by various cultures as a source of treatment and prevention for diseases. Ethnobotanical and scientific studies of "muña" have gained significance due to its bioactive potential against fungi of public health importance. The study was conducted in Puno, Peru (longitude: 15° 50' 15'' W, latitude: 70° 01' 18'' S, altitude: 4047 meters above sea level), with the aim of evaluating the in-vitro inhibition of wild mountain mint essential oil on Candida spp., strains. An experimental in-vitro study was carried out, where 90 inhibitory halos were evaluated at different concentrations using the agar dilution method. The experimental groups consisted of concentrations of mountain mint at: 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 % (experimental groups), a Fluconazole experimental group (positive group), and a distilled water experimental group (negative group). The experimental groups presented inhibitory halos at 25 % (3.5±1.5 mm), 50 % (11.1±0.6 mm), 100 % (15.8±0.7 mm), 150 % (19.1±0.7 mm), 200 % (24.1±0.5 mm), 250 % (29.3±0.6 mm), fluconazole (25.5±0.6 mm), and for distilled water, no inhibitory halos were observed, as it did not have any inhibitory phytochemical components in its composition. It was observed that the concentration at 250 % presented a superior inhibitory halo compared to the experimental groups and Fluconazole, this is explained by the higher concentration of secondary metabolites present in a higher concentration.

Keywords : Antifungal; phytochemicals; inhibition; in vitro; wild mountain mint; medicinal plants.

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