Natural Herbs as Alternative to Synthetic Antifungal Drugs- The Future Challenging Therapy

Background: Oral Candidiasis which is due to overgrowth of candida species especially candida albicans, is mostly encountered among all. The use of natural antimicrobials such as Punica granatum and lawsonia innermis have been an alternate and effective way of treating oral candidiasis becuase of large scale resistance and adverse reactions of the commercially available azole group of synthetic anti-fungal drugs. Aim: This study evaluates the antifungal properties of pomegranate (punica granatum) peel extract, and Henna leaves (Lawsonia inermis) with different solvents such as aqueous, ethanol, methanol and chloroform in different concentrations i.e., 25%, 50% and 75% against pure colonies of candida albicans. Materials and methods: Extracts of punica granatum peel, and lawsonia innermis leaves were prepared and their anticandidal properties were determined. Then the minimum zones of inhibitions in millimeters expressed by both the plant extracts were measured and compared. Results: Among all the solvents and concentrations used, at 25% concentration punica granatum methanol showed the maximum zone of inhibition (mean zone=13.6), at 50% concentration punica granatum chloroform showed maximum inhibition zone (mean zone=15.4mm) and finally at 75% lawsonia chloroform showed the maximum inhibition zone(mean zone=17.4mm). Conclusion: The extracts of Punica granatum peel and Lawsonia innermis leaves showed significant zones of inhibition against candida albicans and hence can be used as a cost effective way of treating oral candidiasis with no adverse effects in comparison to synthetic anti fungal drugs.

Author(s): Owais Gowhar, Narendra Nath Singh, Saima Sultan, Tasneem S.Ain, Arti Mewara and Imtiyaz Shah

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