Tropical Medicinal Plant Extracts from Indonesia as Antifungal Agents against Candida Albicans

Abstract

Background: Candida albicans is responsible for a wide range of medical ailments, from harmless cutaneous to life-threatening bloodstream infections. Growing cases of antifungal-drug resistance strains of C. albicans become a rationale to explore and develop novel anti-candida agents. In this paper, we assessed the anti-candida activity of the methanolic extracts of various tropical medicinal plants from Myrtaceae, Poaceae, and Zingiberaceae, commonly used in Indonesia to treat fungal infections. Methods: Candida albicans strain ATCC 10231 was used as a subject to assess the anti-Candida activities of plant methanolic extracts through disc diffusion assay. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) were observed. Results: All plant extracts in this study showed antifungal activities against C. albicans. Among them, Cymbopogon citratus, Curcuma xanthorrhiza, Curcuma aeruginosa, and Zingiber officinale var. rubrum showed the lowest MIC and MFC value of 3.8 mg/mL. Conclusions: The growth inhibition of C. albicans on disc diffusion assay was demonstrated by Z. officinale var. rubrum and C. longa, which were comparable to antifungal nystatin. Further investigation of the chemical constituents of the extracts and the cytotoxicity test is needed to further develop plant-derived anti-candida agents.

Marine Ascomycetes Extract Antifungal Susceptibility against Candida spp. Isolates from Oral Candidiasis HIV/AIDS Patient: An In Vitro Study

“…49 One method for enhancing MA anti-Candida properties is by extracting their organic solvent, which releases associated bioactive chemicals. 50,51 Up to our knowledge, there have not been any previous reports on MIC and MFC values of MA isolated from Karimunjawa National Park, Central Java, Indonesia. To further improve MA extracts as the active ingredients in anti-Candida medications and dietary supplements, more research into the chemical components of the extracts as well as cytotoxicity tests on test subjects and mammalian cells is required.…”

Antifungal Action of Herbal Plants’ Glycolic Extracts against Candida Species

“…C longa methanolic and ethanolic extracts were effective against C. albicans at 5–100 mg/mL after 24 h, evaluated by agar disc diffusion method [ 40 ], differently, C. longa alcoholic extract at 200 mg/mL was tested as an endodontic irrigant, and was not as effective as sodium hypochlorite after 24 h [ 41 ], the same alcoholic extract was effective against C. albicans in four different dilutions [ 42 ]. In more recent studies, the antifungal effect of C. longa was shown to be as effective as nystatin [ 15 , 43 ].…”

In vitro and in silico evaluation of bioactivities and chemical composition of the aerial parts of Anchusa officinalis L. methanol extract

“…The methanol extract of the aerial parts of A. officinalis L. was diluted appropriately using methanol, and antifungal activity was assessed. 43 The selected fungal strains were cultured in Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) medium for 5 days, and the conidia concentration was measured. About 100 µL of conidia at a concentration of (10 6 conidia/mL) was spread onto the PDA medium.…”