In vitro, Study of The Effect of Four Plant Aqueous Extracts on The Growth of Some Candida Species recovered from the stool samples of infants.
Authors: Juma Intesar M. , Mhawesh Ahmed Ali 
Published: May 2023

Background: A total of (32) stool samples of infants, complaining of diarrhea were included in this study. All of them diagnosed as fungal infections by making a routine and confirmative diagnostic processes, after primary isolation of Candida species, the results reveal that: 12 (37.5%) of isolates were Candida albicans, 11 (34.4%) of isolates were Candida tropicalis and 3 (9.4%) of each isolate of Candida globrata, Candida cruzei and Candida parapsilosis. Five isolates of each one of C. albicans and C. tropicalis were chosen randomly for studying of sensitivity of these isolates to four plant's aqueous extracts, the extracts which were (Pimpinella anisum leaves, Matrecaria chamomilla flowers, Camellia sinensis leaves and Citrus aurantifolia fruits peels), their Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimal Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) were studied by using the dilution method by Sabouraud Dextrose Broth .The results show the MIC of Pimpinella anisum (Leaves) aqueous extracts was (6.25) mcg / ml., and the MFC were (12.5) mcg / ml., the MIC of Matrecaria chamomilla (Flowers) aqueous extracts was (12.5) mcg / ml., and the MFC were (25) mcg/ml, While the rest plants aqueous extracts of (Camellia sinensis (Leaves), Citrus aurantifolia (Fruit Peels) were results have no or very little antifungal activities in all the isolates, so there were not MIC and MFC for it. A second method was used to test the antifungal activity of the same four plant's aqueous extracts by the agar well diffusion method, and the results showed that the diameters of inhibition zones were increased when the concentrations of extracts were increased. This method was the best in explanation of results of sensitivity tests. Results demonstrated that the aqueous extracts of P. anisum (Leaves) and M. chamomilla (Flowers) Produced inhibition zone against C. albicans at (25, 50 and100 mcg /ml ) concentrations, While the other aqueous extracts of plant under study reveal a very little or no inhibition zones at (25, 50 and100 mcg /ml ) concentrations. When comparison of the plant aqueous extracts with both standard antifungal drugs of Ketoconazole and Amphotericin B under study, I found that the aqueous extracts of P. anisum (Leaves) and M. chamomilla (Flowers) were more antifungal effective than other aqueous extracts of plants under research at (100 mcg /ml) concentration for both, and detected also that aqueous extracts of M. chamomilla (Flowers) followed by P. anisum (Leaves)Â were more antifungal effective than other aqueous extracts of plants under research at (25 mcg /ml) concentration for both. In comparison with Amphotericin B, I detected that the aqueous extracts of M. chamomilla (Flowers) was more antifungal effective than other aqueous extracts of plants under research at (50 mcg /ml) concentration for both. And in comparison with ketoconazole, I found that the aqueous extract of M. chamomilla (Flowers) was more antifungal effective than other aqueous extracts of plants under research at (50 mcg /ml) concentration for both.