Antifungal efficacy of <i>Punica granatum</i>, <i>Acacia nilotica</i>, <i>Cuminum cyminum</i> and <i>Foeniculum vulgare</i> on <i>Candida albicans</i>: An <i>in vitro</i> study

• Main Authors: Pai Mithun, Prashant G, Murlikrishna K, Shivakumar K, Chandu G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2010-01-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Dental Research
• Subjects: Antifungal proper; babul; candida; cumin; fennel; pomegranate
• Online Access: http://www.ijdr.in/article.asp?issn=0970-9290;year=2010;volume=21;issue=3;spage=334;epage=336;aulast=Pai

<b>Background:</b> The establishment and maintenance of oral microbiota is related not only to interbacterial coaggregations but also to interactions of these bacteria with yeasts<i>.</i> Hence, it is important for agents used in the treatment of oral diseases to have antifungal properties for effective therapy. <b>Objective:</b> The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the <i>in vitro</i> antifungal efficacy of <i>Punica granatum, Acacia nilotica, Cuminum cyminum</i> and <i>Foeniculum vulgare</i> on <i>Candida albicans.</i> <b>Materials and Methods:</b> The pomegranate peel is separated, dried and powdered. Fennel, cumin and acacia bark obtained from the tree are powdered. Candida is inoculated at 37&#730;C and seeded on Sabourauds agar medium. Sterilized filter papers saturated with 30 &#956;l of the extracts are placed on the seeded plates and inoculated at 24 and 48 h. Zones of inhibition on all four sides are measured around the filter paper with a vernier caliper. The experiments were repeated on four plates, with four samples of each extract on one plate for all of the extracts. <b>Results:</b> All the above-mentioned ingredients showed antifungal property, with <i>Punica granatum</i> showing the highest inhibition of <i>Candida albicans</i> with a mean zone of inhibition of 22 mm. <i>P</i>-values &lt;0.05 were obtained for <i>Punica granatum</i> when compared with the other extracts. <b>Conclusion:</b> The results showed the potential use of these products as cheap and convenient adjuvants to pharmaceutical antifungal products.