Abstract
BackgroundCandida albicans has become resistant to the already limited, toxic and expensive anti-Candida agents available in the market. These factors necessitate the search for new anti-fungal agents.MethodsSixty-three plant extracts, from 56 Tanzanian plant species obtained through the literature and interviews with traditional healers, were evaluated for anti-Candida activity. Aqueous methanolic extracts were screened for anti-Candida activity by bioautography agar overlay method, using a standard strain of Candida albicans (ATCC 90028).ResultsTwenty- seven (48%) out of the 56 plants were found to be active. Extracts of the root barks of Albizia anthelmintica and Balanites aegyptiaca, and roots of Plectranthus barbatus showed strong activity.ConclusionThe extracts that showed strong anti-Candida activity are worth of further investigation in order to isolate and identify the active compounds.
Highlights
Candida albicans has become resistant to the already limited, toxic and expensive anti-Candida agents available in the market
This paper reports on the screening of 63 aqueous methanol plant extracts for activity against Candida albicans
Symptoms of the various forms of Candida infections associated with HIV/AIDS were described to the traditional healers so as to enable them give the appropriate plants they used in the management of these conditions
Summary
Candida albicans has become resistant to the already limited, toxic and expensive anti-Candida agents available in the market. These factors necessitate the search for new anti-fungal agents. Numerous studies have shown an association between increased prevalence of HIV infection and the occurrence of opportunistic fungal infections [1,2]. Among the different HIV-associated fungal infections, oral mucosal lesions caused by Candida species are by far the most frequent manifestation [3]. Other Candida species such as C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, and C. kruseimay cause symptomatic oral candidiasis in HIV-positive individuals [6]. Other fungal infections seen in HIV-infected individuals include, cryptococcosis due to Cryptococcus neoformans and aspergillosis due to Aspergillus flavus, A. fumigatus and A. niger [7,8]
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