Antifungal Properties of Some Tropical Plant Extract against Pathogenic Strains of Candida Albican

Abstract

The effect of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of air-dried and pulverized stem bark extracts of Anogeissus leiocarpus, Parkia biglobosa, Bridelia feruginea and leaf of Acalypha wilkesinia on Candida albicans, the inducer of intertrigo candida disease in children was investigated. The zones of inhibition produced by various plant components showed that for ethanolic extract, only Anogeissus leiocarpus bark (ANB) at 30 mg/ml with zone of inhibition 10.33±0.58 surpassed nystatin (500 IU/ml) with zone of inhibition of  9.33±0.58 while Anogeissus leiocarpus bark (ANB) at 15 - 25 mg/ml with zone of inhibition of 7.00±0.00 - 9.00±0.00 was more effective than ketoconazole (USP 200mg) with zone of inhibition of 6.67±0.57 as well as Anogeissus leiocarpus leaf (ANL) at 20-30 mg/ml with zone inhibition of  6.67±0.58 - 8.67±0.58 and Acalypha wilkesinia leaf (ACL) at 30 mg/ml with zone of inhibition of 7.00±0.00. For the aqueous extract Anogeissus leiocarpus bark (ANB) at 20-30 mg/ml with zone inhibition of 9.67±0.58 - 11.67±0.58 and Anogeissus leiocarpus leaf (ANL) at 30 mg/ml with zone of inhibition of 10.00±0.00 surpassed nystatin (500 IU/ml) with zone of inhibition of 9.33±0.58 while Anogeissus leiocarpus bark (ANB) at 10-15 mg/ml with zone of inhibition of 7.00±1.00 - 8.00±1.00 was more effective than ketoconazole (USP 200mg) with zone of inhibition of 6.67±0.57 as well as Acalypha wilkesinia leaf (ACL) at 20-25 mg/ml with zone of inhibition of 7.33±0.58 - 8.33±0.58 and Anogeissus leiocarpus leaf (ANL) at 20-25 mg/ml with zone inhibition of 7.67±0.58 - 9.00 ±0.00. The fungitoxicity tests have shown that extracts from Anogeissus leiocarpus leaf and stem-bark as well as Acalypha wilkesinia leaf can replace synthetic drugs in the management of intertrigo infection.