Abstract:
Background: Candida is commensal yeast that lives harmlessly in the gastrointestinal tract
and the oral and vaginal mucosa, and is the most common cause of fungal infections
worldwide. These yeasts often cause superficial infections such as vaginitis and mouth
sores. However, Antifungals used in the treatment are toxic and have become ineffective due
to emerging resistance. Therefore, people are using plant materials which have antimicrobial
effect for healing wounds and mouth sores in Ayurveda and traditional medicine.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the anticandidal activity of ten selected
medicinal plants i.e. Senna alata (eth-tora), Citrus aurantiifolia (lime), Curcuma longa
(turmeric), Cymbopogon citratus (lemon grass), Sesbania grandiflora (kathurumurunga),
Phyllanthus emblica (indian gooseberry), Ricinus communis (castor), Psidium guajava
(guvava), Tamarindus indica (tamarind) and Cinnamomum verum (cinnamon) against
Candida albicans and Candida glabrata.
Methodology: Methanol extractions prepared from each plant were subjected to antifungal
susceptibility testing against both Candida species, suspensions of 1-2 × 108 organisms/ml
was prepared using sterile normal saline for each isolate by comparing with 0.5 McFarland
turbidity standards. Sabouraud dextrose agar plates will be inoculated separately with both
species. Fluconazole and dichloromethane were used as the positive and negative controls
respectively. The minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) was determined for each plant
extract by broth microdilution method.
Results and conclusions: The initial concentration of 0.2 g/mL of plant extract showed no
clear zone of inhibition, however there was a suppression of growth around the discs of
C. aurantiifolia, C. verum, P. emblica and P. guajava against C. Glabrata and in C. Verum
against C. albicans. Hence MFC was determined with different concentrations of plant
extracts (minumum concentration = 31.25 mg/mL). It revealed an inhibition of growth of
C. albicans by C. verum, C. Longa and P. guajava at all the concentrations tested. An
inhibition of the growth of C. glabrata was observed in S. Grandiflora, C. verum, P. emblica
and P. guajava at all the concentrations tested. The results of this study indicated the
anticandidal activity in several selected plant extracts against both Candida species.