Abstract:
Emergence of resistance to antifungal drugs among Candida species is reported at alarmingly
high rates. This limits severely the treatment options available for invasive and superficial
candida infections. Despite many studies dedicated to develop novel treatment strategies, in
depth exploration of antifungal medications used in indigenous medicinal practices would lead
to a fruitful path rationalizing the pharmacological and phytochemical significance of them.
Thus the current study was undertaken to investigate the anticandidal potential of four plant
extracts commonly used in indigenous medicinal systems as antifungal remedies; Jasminum
officinale flower, Leucas zeylanica whole plant, Cassia alata flower and Cinnamomum
zeylanicum leaf methanol extracts against three Candida type cultures namely Candida
albicans (ATCC 10232), Candida krusei (ATCC 200917) and Candida parapsilosis (ATCC
22019).The anticandidal activities of these plant extracts were evaluated by agar well-diffusion
method. Standard fluconazole was used as the positive control and 80% dimethyl sulfoxide
(DMSO), the solvent was used as the negative control. The obtained results indicated that all
three Candida species were inhibited by C. zeylanicum leaf extract yielding mean inhibition
zone diameters of 16.67±0.58 mm, 18.00±0.00 mm and 19.33±0.58 mm for C. albicans, C.
krusei and C. parapsilosis respectively. No inhibition was reported for remaining extracts to all
three Candida species. A mean inhibition zone diameter of 40.33±0.58 mm, 42.00±0.00 mm
and 37.67±0.58 mm were obtained for standard fluconazole positive control accordingly. The
growth of all three species was not affected by the negative control. The preliminary
observations suggest that C. zeylanicum leaf extract has the potential to be further studied and
to be developed into potential herbal medication for Candida infections.
