Description
ABSTRACT
Introduction : Candida albicans, a diploid fungus also a casual agent of opportunistic oral infections in humans and is traditionally being treated using herbs. Due to increase in the antibiotic-resistant strains of microorganisms, traditional plants are being investigated for their antibacterial and medicinal values.
Aim: The aim of the present work was to explore the antimicrobial activities of selected plant leaves extracts against the pathogen Candida albicans which is also be responsible for causing oral cancer disease in recent studies. The aim of this study was to assess the antifungal activity of plant leaves extracts against Candida albicans and to study the inhibitory effect of chemical antifungal agents or drugs and elements of tooth pastes on Candida albicans pathogen isolated from oral cavity to compare with herbal plants extracts.
Material n methods: In present study, leaves extract of ten selected plant prepared in DMSO solution have been chosen for the investigation of in vitro antifungal activity which acts as expectorant and not having toxic properties on humans while for comparison or control, antifungal drugs have been taken.
Results: Results showed that Candida albicans shows most sensitivity towards the standard antibiotic cotrimoazol but very less towards other drugs like Fluconazole, minocycline, erythromycin respectively which indicated Candida albicans shows some resistance character towards drugs while the herbal extracts of Lawsonia inermis, Withania somnifer, Curcuma longa, Cymbopogon citrates and Zingiber officinale gives the best inhibitory effect and they have the potential to control growth of Candida albicans.
Conclusion: The present investigation was carried out to investigate the chemical and therapeutically potential by evaluating phytochemical and antifungal activity of the fresh leaves extracts. These findings will further help to develop the new antifungal drugs from these herbs or they can also be use in tooth pastes, oral ointments etc. for treatment of oral diseases at cheapest rate by inhibiting the growth of Candida albicans, an opportunistic fungal pathogen.
Key words: OSCC, Candida albicans, Medicinal Herbs, Antifungal Activity.
