Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: ALEXANDRE ABDON LEITE DANTAS

Antifungal activity and in vitro antibiofilm potential of Cannabis sativa L. against yeasts of the genus Candida

Cannabis sativa; Cannabidiol; Cannabigerol; Candida albicans; Biofilm; Antifungals.

Infections caused by yeasts of the genus Candida, particularly Candida albicans, represent a major challenge in dentistry due to their ability to form biofilms on oral tissues and prosthetic surfaces. This characteristic reduces the efficacy of conventional antifungals and promotes the emergence of resistant strains. Within this scenario, non-psychoactive compounds from Cannabis sativa L., such as cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG), have attracted interest for their therapeutic potential. Recent studies demonstrate that these phytocannabinoids exhibit antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and biofilm-modulating properties, indicating a possible application in the control of oral infections. Furthermore, the use of Cannabis sativa derivatives emerges as a promising alternative in the face of growing resistance to conventional antifungals. This study aims to evaluate, in vitro, the antifungal and antibiofilm activities of CBD and CBG, used both individually and in combination, against Candida strains. Standardized full-spectrum floral extracts rich in CBD, rich in CBG, and containing their combination will be employed. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) will be determined using the broth microdilution method with resazurin, whereas the Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) will be evaluated by subculturing on solid media. In addition to classifying the action as either fungicidal or fungistatic, time-kill kinetic curves will be performed to analyze microbial reduction over time. The antibiofilm potential will be investigated regarding both the inhibition of cell adhesion and the disruption of mature biofilms, using Nystatin as the reference control. Data will be analyzed using Two-Way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post-hoc test, considering a 5% significance level (α = 0.05). The results are expected to contribute to the understanding of the antifungal potential of phytocannabinoids and to assist in the development of new therapeutic approaches for the management of oral candidiasis.