Background: Antifungal multidrug resistance has been reported worldwide and has stimulated investigations of plant
species for the treatment of candidiasis. In particular,
in vitro antifungal activities and cytotoxicity of dry extracts from
Ceasalpinia ferrea
(tul.) Martius,
Brosimum acutifolium
Huber, and
Salacia impressifolia
(Miers) A.C. Smith were
evaluated.
Materials and Methods: Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum fungicide (MFC) values were
established according to the protocol M27-A2 of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Subsequent
evaluations were performed using strains of
Candida albicans
from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC)
10231, clinical isolated
Candida albicans,
Candida glabrata
(CCT) 0728,
Candida krusei
(FTI) CCT 1517, and
Candida guilliermondii
(CCT) 1890. Morphological changes were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy
(SEM), and cytotoxicity was evaluated in murine L929 fibroblast cells after treatment with plant extracts.
Results: MIC values indicated antifungal potential of all three extracts against the main fungi that causes candidiasis.
Conclusion: In particular,
C. ferrea showed promising antimicrobial potential against all strains. Hence, future studies
are warranted to investigate pharmacologically active compounds from this extract that could be used as prototypes for
drug development and/or as a source of raw pharmaceutical materials for the treatment of candidiasis.
