Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research

  • Abbreviation: J. Med. Plants Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0875
  • DOI: 10.5897/JMPR
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 3835

Full Length Research Paper

Anti-Candida activity of ethanolic extracts of Iranian endemic medicinal herbs against Candida albicans

H.A. Rohi Boroujeni1, A. Ghasemi Pirbalouti1*, B. Hamedi1, R. Abdizadeh1 and F. Malekpoor2
1Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad ‎University, Researches Centre of Medicinal Plants and Ethno-veterinary, Rahmatieh, POBox: ‎‏166‏‎, Shahrekord, Iran. 2Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Science, Tarbiat Moallem University (Kharazmi), Tehran, Iran.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 14 December 2011
  •  Published: 30 March 2012

Abstract

It has long been known that herbs and their extracts have antimicrobial activities. Heracleumlasiopetalum Boiss., Satureja bachtiarica Bunge., Thymus daenensis Celak., Echiophoraplatyloba L., Dracocephalum multicaule Benth., Kelussia odoratissima Mozaff. and Achilleakellalensis Boiss. are Iranian endemic plant species that have been traditionally used as medicinal herbs and spices in different regions of Iran especially Central Zagross. Seven ethanolic extracts of endemic medicinal herbs and one extract of native medicinal herb (Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl.) collected from Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province of Iran were assayed for the in vitro antifungal activity against Candida albicans (ATCC1023), using agar dilution methods. Most of the extracts showed relatively high anti-Candida activity against the tested fungi with the diameter of inhibition zone ranging between 8 and 17 mm. The extracts ofS. bachtiarica and T. daenensis exhibited high inhibitory effect against C. albicans. The extracts of S. bachtiarica and T. daenensis were characterized using HPLC, the major components of S. bachtiarica and T. daenensis were carvacrol and thymol, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for active extract range between 25 and 50 µg/ml. In conclusion, it can be said that the extract of some of the Iranian endemic medicinal plants (S. bachtiarica and T. daenensis) could be used as natural anti-Candida.

 

Key words: Candida albicans, endemic medicinal herbs, antifungal activity, SaturejabachtiaricaThymus daenensis.