Antifungal activity of herbal plants against Candida albicans

Abstract

There has been increase in use of herbal medicine by herbalists to cure diseases. They use indigenous knowledge acquired through generations. The plant parts studied were collected from Central Kenya and extracted using solvents of different polarity. Phytochemical analysis both qualitative and quantitative analysis and in-vitro biological activities of the plant extracts against candidiasis were determined using Disk Diffusion method. From the in-vitro bioassay results, it was established that ethanol extract of Vernonia brachycalyx (with inhibition zone of 10.5 mm) and Aloe secundiflora (with inhibition zone of 7.0 mm) were the most active against Candida albicans, the causative agent of candidiasis. The antimicrobial activities using the different solvents were statistically different (p < 0.05). The anti-microbial activity results of this research provided a scientific basis for the use of investigated herbal extracts in the treatment of candidiasis.