Abstract

The discovery of antimicrobials from traditional medicinal plants is gaining importance. The objectives of this study were to determine the anti-candidal activity of young and mature leaves of Piper betle collected from dry and wet zones of Sri Lanka, leaves and roots of Vitex negundo and leaves of Jasminum grandiflorum and the determination of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC). Water and ethanolic extracts of plant material were tested against standard cultures of Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida krusei, Candida parapsilosis and Candida tropicalis. The MICs of active extracts were determined. Ethanolic extracts of young leaves of P. betle showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) anti-candidal activity against all Candida species bioassayed, while mature leaves showed less activity. MICs of ethanolic extract of young leaves of P. betle were within 0.64 - 3.2 mg/mL. There was no significant difference between the activity of leaves of P. betle collected from wet zone and dry zone (p > 0.05). Water extracts of leaves of P. betle and water and ethanolic extracts of leaves and roots of V. negundo and leaves of J. grandiflorum did not show a significant anti-candidal activity. Hence, young leaves of P. betle can be used as an anti-candidal agent since betel leaves are used in masticatory mixtures. 

Key words: Candidiasis, Piper betle, young and mature leaves, MIC.

Abbreviation

MIC, Minimum inhibitory concentration; DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide; MHA, Mueller Hinton agar; BSAC, British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy