Objectives: The anti-Candida activity of leaf extracts extracted from Copaifera spp. were evaluated against planktonic cells as well as biofilm formation. 
Methods: The effects of the extract of Copaifera species (C. paupera Dwyer, C. reticulata Ducke, C. multijuga Hayne, C. pubiflora Benth, C. duckei Dwer and C. langsdorffi Desfontaine) on Candida species (C. albicans ATCC 5314, C. glabrata ATCC 2001, C. parapsilosis ATCC 22019, C. krusei ATCC 6258 and C. tropicalis ATCC 13803) were assessed by both the microdilution method with revelation by resazurin and in vivo using a nematode model. Effect of extract on Candida biofilm formation was assessed by XTT [2,3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide] reduction assay.
Results: The best results obtained were for C. reticulata (CR) and C. paupera (CP), which showed a minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.09 µg/mL and 0.18 µg/mL, respectively, against Candida glabrata.  Results showed that CR at 2.9; 5.8; 11.6 and 23.4 µg/mL prolonged the survival of C. elegans infected by C. glabrata in 68 to 75% when compared to infected and untreated larvae. Similarly, when the treatment was performed with CP, survival percentages were higher than 75%. CR and CP inhibited the formation of biofilms by C. glabrata at the concentration of 46.87 µg/mL.
Conclusion: The findings from this study demonstrated that CR and CP extracts have anti-Candida activities and might be useful in the development of pharmaceutical products becoming an alternative therapeutic agent for candidiasis in the future.
Funders: São Paulo Research Foundation, University of Franca and São Paulo State University – UNESP - School of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Plants of the genus Copaifera: new therapeutic option for the treatment of candidiasis.