In recent years

the incidence and mortality of clinical fungal infections have been increasing rapidly. Invasive fungal infections

especially candidiasis

have become the major cause. Currently

side effect have been found in many existing antifungal agents to different extents. In addition

with the extensive application of broad-spectrum antifungal agents in clinic

there has been a notable increase in drug resistance. Thus

it is very important to develop new and effective antifungal agents. Natural plant compositions

especially essential oils

have many beneficial biological activities

such as antibacterial

anti-inflammatory

antitumor and analgesic activities. They had already become a hotspot in the research and development of antifungal drugs

because of their advantages

such as wide sources

low toxicity

broad spectrum and diverse functions. The antifungal activity of essential oils is closely related to their components and contents. Therefore

in this paper

the progress of research on analysis of chemical compositions and antifungal activity of essential oils from different families of plants against Candida spp. was reviewed. Extraction and analysis of essential oils from Labiatae

Lauraceae

Myrtaceae and other plants were systematically summarized. Methods and mechanisms of action of anti-Candida activity were investigated. The direction of current studies was also discussed. All of these may provide a direction for the analysis and activity of essential oils in the future and lay the foundation for developing plant essential oils into new anti-Candida agents. It may also provide new solutions for clinical infections caused by drug resistance problems.