Evaluation of the anti-candidal activity of methanolic leaf extract of cleistopholis patens (fam. Annonaceae) on candida species isolated from stage II HIV patients

• Published in: African health sciences 2015-09, Vol.15 (3), p.789-796
• Main Authors: Okechukwu, David C, Momoh, Mumuni A, Esimone, Charles O
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Alternative medicine; Annonaceae - chemistry; Anti-candidal activity, Cleistopholis patens, Candida, HIV Patients; Antifungal Agents - pharmacology; Candida - drug effects; Candida - isolation & purification; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Fungal infections; HIV Infections - complications; HIV Infections - diagnosis; Humans; Medical treatment; Medicinal plants; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Middle Aged; Nystatin - pharmacology; Nystatin - therapeutic use; Patients; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Extracts - isolation & purification; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Leaves - chemistry; Research methodology; Statistical analysis; West Africa
• ISSN: 1680-6905; 1729-0503; 1680-6905
• DOI: 10.4314/ahs.v15i3.12

Background: Candida species (sp) is implicated in causing opportunistic disseminated mycotic complications in stage II HIV patients. Cleistopholis patens is a West African medicinal tree reported to have significant antifungal activity against C. albicans. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the anti-candidal activity of methanolic leaf extract of Cleistopholis patens against Candida species isolated from stage II HIV patients. Methods: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extract and Nystatin®® was determined by agar dilution method. The killing rate studies of the plant extract and Nystatin® were also determined. Results: The extract had activity against all Candida isolates, with the MIC against the five isolates ranging from 6.0 - 9.8 mg/ml. Nystatin® also demonstrated plausible activity against the isolates with MICs ranging from 0.3125 - 25 mg/ml. Candida albicans strain 2 was the most sensitive to both extract and Nystatin® with MIC values of 6 and 0.3125 mg/ml respectively. Candida krusei was the least sensitive with MIC values of 9.8 and 25 mg/ml for the extract and Nystatin® respectively. The killing rate values for the extract ranged from -0.029 to -0.091 min-1 and that of Nystatin® ranged from -0.076 to -0.11216 min-1. Conclusions: The results indicate that the methanolic extract of Cleistopholis patens is a promising clinical alternative besides Nystatin® in the treatment of infections caused by Candida species in stage II HIV patients.