Kathleen G. Bersabal | Kyrie Marie D. Deluao | Meg C. Ibarra | Nessa Karla C. Jerusalem
Discipline: Chemistry
Candida albicans is a fungus that is normally present on the skin and in mucous membranes such as vagina, mouth, or rectum. This fungus also can travel through the blood stream and affect the throat, intestines, and heart valves. It becomes an infectious agent when there is some change in the body environment that allows it to grow out of control; thus, causing a modern day disease brought on by antibiotics, drugs, processed foods, sugar and poor diet. Folkloric practice suggests that Kulantrillo de Allambre (Adiantum capillus-veneris) is effective as antifungal medication against Candida albicans; therefore, this study was undertaken to verify such claim. This effort included the phytochemical screening of active constituents, susceptibility and minimum inhibitory concentration tests involving the plant. To prove that Kulantrillo de Allambre possesses antifungal activity, a formulation of vaginal cream out of the plant extracts was tested. Alkaloids, saponins, steroids, flavonoids, tannins and anthraquinones were performed following the method described by Guevara et al. (2005). Kirby-Bauer Method was employed for the susceptibility test and two-fold agar dilution was employed for the MIC. Vaginal cream was formulated following the method of Ansel (2004). Tests revealed the presence of flavonoids only, which exhibit the antifungal property. Kirby-Bauer Method revealed that both test extract and positive control showed strong inhibition equivalent to 17.71 ± 6.3183 mm and 23.54 ± 4.9629 mm, respectively. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration of the plant extract was 50,000 ug/mL. Statistical analysis showed that there is no significant difference between the antifungal property of plant extract and positive control. Both test drugs have similar antifungal property, suggesting that the plant material is a good antifungal agent. The physical properties of vaginal cream conformed to the standard of physical properties of commercialized product available in the market.
ISSN 1656-0604 (Print)
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