Antifungal activity of Camellia sinensis crude extracts against four species of Candida and Microsporum persicolor

Abstract

Objective of the studyCandidiasis and dermatophytoses are benign infections in humans and animals, but they are very dreaded diseases in immunocompromised individuals. These infections become resistant to different treatments which make them more dangerous. In this work, we tried to find a new way for treating them. So we were interested in the antifungal activity of Camellia sinensis (tea); this plant is known to have many health benefits. Materials and methodsWe tested the ability of the acetone and aqueous crude extracts of the plant to inhibit in vitro the growth of Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalis, Candida krusei and Microsporum persicolor. Then, the antifungal activity against these species was tested in vivo in mice. ResultsThe results showed that the acetone crude extract had the most important in vitro activity against all the fungi. But in vivo it was only the most active against Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalis and Microsporum persicolor. Candida krusei was more sensitive to the aqueous crude extract. ConclusionThese results indicated that tea could be considered to treat infections caused by the five tested species.