Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Effects of the Alcoholic and Aqueous Extracts of Chenopodium Album and Chenopodium Botrys against Candida Albicans

Background & Objectives: In recent decades, rate of infections caused by opportunistic fungi, such as Candida albicans, has increased dramatically. Treatment of fungal diseases is associated with limitations such as rare and expensive antifungal drugs and their side effects, drug resistance and reduced susceptibility of fungi to drugs. Therefore, researchers have been concerned with finding new antifungal drugs, especially herbal medicines, to treat fungal infections. Materials and Methods: In this study, aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Chenopodium album and Chenopodium botrys were used to evaluate the anti-Candida effects of C. albican yeast PTCC ۵۰۲۷ and ۱۰ clinical isolates of this species. After obtaining the herbal essence using the soxhlet method, anti-fungal properties of the extract were evaluated using the disk diffusion and broth dilution methods. Moreover, fluconazole was used as positive control. Results: Comparison of the protective effects of the aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Chenopodium album and Chenopodium botrys against C. albicans indicated that the highest halo diameter was mostly in the aqueous extract of Chenopodium botrys leaves and Chenopodium album roots. In addition, fluconazole was found to exert anti-Candida and inhibitory effects against the fungi, which were similar in both plants. Conclusion: Considering the rising prevalence of fungal infections, further investigation of medicinal herbs with anti-Candida effects is of paramount importance. It is hoped that different medicinal plants and therapeutic compounds could replace conventional treatments for fungal infections.

Keywords:

Alcoholic and aqueous extracts , Antimicrobial activity , Candida albicans , Chenopodium album , Chenopodium botrys , درمنه ترکی , سلمک , عصاره آبی و الکلی , فعالیت ضدمیکروبی , کاندیدا آلبیکنس