Efficacy of Banana Leaf Oil Extract Against Candida Albicans Growth in Diaper Rash

Abstract

The baby's skin is very sensitive, so it is prone to infection or suffering from allergies or fungi and bacteria. Skin disorders that often occur in babies are characterized by the appearance of prickly heat, irritation, diaper rash, or eczema. The prevalence of diaper rash in infants aged 0-12 months is quite high at 25% of the 6,840,507,000 babies in the world. Candidiasis dermatitis is a diaper caused by a fungal infection of candida albicans. The use of antifungal drugs causes candida albicans to become more resistant and causes side effects. The use of natural materials began to be developed as safer natural antifungals. Banana leaves contain alkaloids, flavonoids, and polyphenols that are antifungal. The study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of banana leaf oil extract in inhibiting the growth of candida albicans fungi.Method: This was experimental research. The sample of this study was a pure culture of candida albicans totaling 30 samples, divided into 5 groups of treating concentrations of plantain leaf oil extract. The variables of this study were the concentration of plantain leaf oil extract 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% as free variables, and the diameter of the bat growth zone of candida albicans fungus as a bound variable. Data analysis was carried out with the ANOVA test and the Tukey LSD test to analyze the effectiveness of banana leaf oil extract against the growth of candida albicans fungi.Results and Discussion: Phytochemical test results show that banana leaf oil extract contains alkaloid compounds, flavonoids, and polyphenols. The results of the inhibition zone data analysis with the ANOVA test and the Tukey test showed a significant influence (p < 0.05) on each concentration of the extract on the growth of candida albicans. The results of measuring the diameter of the inhibition zone of the largest plantain leaf oil extract were at a concentration of 25%. Thus, the extract concentration of plantain leaf oil is effective for inhibiting the growth of candida albicans fungi at a concentration of 25%.Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that banana leaf oil extract can effectively inhibit the growth of candida albicans at a concentration of 25%.