Chemical composition and modifying activity of essential oil of Lantana camara L. (wild sage) against Candida strains

Introduction: Fungal infections, particularly those caused by the genus Candida , are an important public health problem. Lantana camara L. stands out among the medicinal species with abundant biological and pharmacological activity. Objective: Analyze the phytochemical profile of essential oil of L. camara and evaluate its antioxidant capacity and modifying antifungal potential against various Candida strains. Methods: Identification of the chemical components present in the essential oil of L. camara was performed by gas chromatography / mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Antioxidant activity was determined by elimination of free DPPH radicals. Antifungal activity of the essential oil of L. camara leaves was evaluated by microdilution against Candida albicans , C. krusei and C. tropicalis . Results: It was found that the essential oil of L. camara leaves is rich in terpenes, mainly sesquiterpenes, (E)-caryophyllene (25.80 %), germacrene D (17.36 %), γ-elemene (7.62 %) and sabinene (6.61 %). The essential oil displayed very low activity in DPPH radical elimination, while it displayed antimicrobial activity against the study strains (MIC ≥ 1 024 μg/ml), but it significantly modified the effect of fluconazole against Candida kruzei and C. tropicalis . Conclusions: The essential oil of L. camara was found to be a good modifier of fluconazole, but it does not have any relevant antioxidant activity. Key words: modifying activity, antioxidant activity, wild sage, Lantana camara .