Abstract
This study investigated the activity of aqueous and corn steep liquor (CSL) extracts of Ficus exaperasta, Annona muricata and Azadirachta indica against Candida spp. isolated from high vaginal swab samples. Phytochemical screening of the plants was done using standard methods, the antifungal activity of the plant's extracts and standard drugs were tested against isolates of Candida spp. using the agar well diffusion method; the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) were also determined using microdilution standardized techniques. Phytochemical screening of the aqueous and CSL extracts of the plants revealed the presence of tannin, saponin, flavonoids, and terpenoids. Among the five Candida strain isolates, the zone of inhibition produced by the plant extracts against C. albicans shows a range of 0-18.3 mm; C. krusei (strain A): 5.1-24.5 mm; C. krusei (strain B): 0-18.0 mm; C. kefyr (strain A): 6.1-27.5 mm; and C. kefyr (strain B): 0-22.0 mm. The CSL extract had higher inhibitory action compared with aqueous extract, also F. exasperata and A. muricata gave better antifungal activity against the tested Candida strains. The MIC of the aqueous and CSL extracts of the F. exasperata ranged between 6.25-12.50 mg/mL; A. muricata: 3.125-12.500 mg/mL, while the aqueous and CSL extracts of A. indica was found to have no activity at all the tested concentrations against C. albicans, C. krusei (strain A) and C. krusei (strain B), similar observation for the MFC. This study proved the antifungal efficacy of aqueous and CSL extracts of F. exasperata, A. muricata, and A. indica against isolates of Candida species which are usually implicated in candidiasis.
Highlights
Fungal infections continue to be a source of concern for public health as it is known to affect many people worldwide
This study proved the antifungal efficacy of aqueous and corn steep liquor (CSL) extracts of F. exasperata, A. muricata, and A. indica against isolates of Candida species which are usually implicated in candidiasis
In other to assess the antifungal effects of CSL and aqueous extracts of three medicinal plants on clinical isolates of Candida spp., high vaginal swab samples obtained from suspected cases of candidiasis were used to isolate and test the potential effect of the tested extracts against the isolated organisms adopting the agar well diffusion method
Summary
Fungal infections continue to be a source of concern for public health as it is known to affect many people worldwide. Candida spp. is one of the common fungal infection plaguing humans These yeast species are characterized by a thin cell wall, ovoid cells that are typically 3-5 μm in diameter, often forming the normal flora of skin, mouth, vagina, and intestine. They are known to be opportunistic pathogens that infect people with low immunity (Calderone and Fonzi, 2001; Rahman et al, 2011). There is a constant search for alternative antifungal treatments some of which are obtained from medicinal plants
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