SVOA Microbiology

Bárbara Rayanne da S. Teles¹, Rafael de C. Mendes², Maria Elizete M. Generino¹, Lucas dos S. Sa¹, Daniela Jomara C. de Oliveira³, Anita Oliveira Brito P. B. Martins¹, Maria Raquel da S. Duarte¹, Leandro M. Correia⁴, Camila F. Bezerra¹, Cícera Natalia F. L. Gondim¹, Ana H. dos Santos⁴, Hayane Mateus S. Gomes¹, Ademar M. Filho¹, Maria I. Rocha¹, Francisca Sâmara M. dos Santos¹, Germana de Alencar M. Luz⁵, Victor Juno A. Fonseca¹, Maria Flaviana B. Morais-Braga¹, Jailson Renato de L. Silva⁶ , José W. Almeida-Bezerra^1* , Adrielle R. Costa¹

¹Regional University of Cariri, Crato – CE, Brazil.

²Paraíso Medical Faculty, Araripina - PE, Brazil.

³Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba – PR, Brazil.

⁴Federal University of Cariri, Juazeiro do Norte – CE, Brazil.

⁵Higher Education Association of Piauí, Teresina – PI, Brazil.

⁶Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife – PE, Brazil.

*Corresponding Author: Prof. Dr. Jose Weverton Almeida-Bezerra, Department of Biological Chemistry, Regional University of Cariri, 63105-000, Crato, CE, Brazil.

https://doi.org/10.58624/SVOAMB.2026.07.001

Received: January 22, 2026

Published: February 10, 2026

Citation: Teles BRdS, Mendes RdC, Generino MEM, Sa LdS, Oliveira DJCd, Martins AOBPB, Duarte MRdS, Correia LM, Bezerra CF, Gondim CNFL, Santos AHd, Gomes HMS, Filho AM, Rocha MI, Santos FSMd, Luz GdAM, Fonseca VJA, Morais-Braga MFB, Silva JRLd, Almeida-Bezerra JW, Costa AR. Enhancement of Fluconazole Activity by Ocimum basilicum Essential Oil in Candida albicans and Pichia kudriavzevii. SVOA Microbiology 2026, 7:1, 01-07. doi: 10.58624/SVOAMB.2026.07.001

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has intensified the challenge of treating fungal infections, particularly those caused by Candida albicans and Pichia kudriavzevii, which show increasing resistance to conventional antifungal agents. This scenario highlights the urgent need for new therapeutic approaches capable of enhancing existing treatments. In this study, we investigated the antifungal potential of Ocimum basilicum essential oil (OEOB) and its combined effects with standard antifungal drugs. In antifungal assays, isolated OEOB did not exhibit significant inhibitory activity against Candida albicans and Pichia kudriavzevii. However, when associated with fluconazole, OEOB promoted a marked reduction in fungal growth, demonstrating its potential to enhance the efficacy of conventional antifungal therapy. These findings indicate that OEOB acts as a promising adjuvant agent in antifungal treatments, contributing to improved therapeutic outcomes against resistant Candida albicans and Pichia kudriavzevii strains.

Keywords: Antimicrobial resistance; Candidiasis; Antifungal activity.