Evaluation of the Anti-Candida Activities of Some Plant Extracts on Candida tropicalis and Candida Spp Isolated from Prison Inmates in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

Aim: This study aimed at determining the anti-candida activities of Alternanthera braziliana and Curcuma longa on Candida tropicalis and Candida spp isolated from prison inmates in Owerri, Southeast, Nigeria.

Study Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study.

Place and Duration of Study: Owerri federal prison between March 2020 - June 2021.

Methodology: The anti-candida activities of methanolic extracts of Alternanthera braziliana and Curcuma longa on Candida tropicalis and Candida spp were evaluated by the disc diffusion method. The plant extracts were obtained by soxhlet extraction using methanol as solvent. The results were obtained by measuring the inhibition zone diameter in millimeters.

Results: In order to ascertain the anti-candida activities of Alternanthera braziliana and Curcuma longa in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria, the antimicrobial properties of their extracts were tested by disc diffusion. Of the two plant extracts used methanolic extracts of Curcuma longa had better anti-candida properties than Alternanthera braziliana inhibiting the growth of Candida spp at the concentrations of 200 mg/ml, 100 mg/ml and 50 mg/ml with inhibition zones ranging from 11 mm, 10 mm and 9 mm respectively. Methanolic extracts of Alternanthera brasiliana exhibited no anti-candida activity at different concentrations.

Conclusion:The results show that Curcuma longa had better anti-candida activity against Candida spp. and might be promising, at least, in the treatment of Candida spp infections.