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概要

Synergistic Effect of Acacia senegalensis and Kigelia africana on Vaginal Candida albicans

Muhammed Rabiu Sahal and Saeed Aisha Mohammed

Background: Plant extracts with medicinal values have been used to treat many diseases that can be bacterial, fungal or parasitic among many others. Plants with medicinal value produce certain chemical element known as phytochemicals that have antimicrobial activity. These plants extracts are considered potential source of new antimicrobial agents, serving as alternatives to conventional drugs that the microorganisms have develop resistance to Candida albicans is yeast that is mainly found in the mucosal cavity of the vagina and the intestinal tract as a normal microbiota but it can cause systematic infection in immunocompromised individuals.

Objective: This study was aimed at determining the synergistic effect of Acacia senegalensis and Kigelia africana leaves extracts against Candida albicans isolated from the vagina.

Methods: Candida spp were isolated from the vagina and Candida albicans isolates were obtained after identification using Germ tube test. The synergistic effect of the plants was evaluated using agar well diffusion method and the minimum inhibitory concentration was determined using double fold dilution method.

Results: The results displayed A. senegalensis as the most active against Candida albicans, having the highest zone of inhibition 13 mm and 7 mm for ethanolic and aqueous extracts respectively at 200 mg/ml concentration and 10 mm for ethanolic extract of A. senegalensis at 100 mg/ml concentration, followed by synergy of ethanolic extract of A. senegalensis and K. africana which has the zone of inhibition of 7 mm for aqueous and ethanolic at 200 mg/ml.

Conclusion: The results suggest that individual plant extract has better activity on Candida albicans than a combination of the extracts hence K. aficana and A. senegalensis shows antagonistic effect rather than a synergistic activity on the Candida albicans isolate.