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

• Published in: Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark. Print) Vol. 27; no. 9; p. 274
• Main Authors: Geraldi, Almando, Wardana, Andika Pramudya, Aminah, Nanik Siti, Kristanti, Alfinda Novi, Sadila, Aliffa Yusti, Wijaya, Nabilla Hapsari, Wijaya, Mellya Rimadha Andra, Diningrum, Noviana Indah Dwi, Hajar, Versa Rachmania, Manuhara, Yosephine Sri Wulan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: IMR Press 01.09.2022
• Subjects: candida albicans; health care; methanolic extract; minimum fungicidal concentration; minimum inhibitory concentration; tropical medicinal plants
• ISSN: 2768-6701; 2768-6698; 2768-6698
• DOI: 10.31083/j.fbl2709274

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.