comparison of Antimicrobial Effects of Mezoneuron benthamianum, Heliotropium indicum and Flabellaria paniculata on Candida species

Alternative medicine, also called unconventional medicine, is therapeutic practices, techniques, and beliefs that are outside the realm of mainstream Western healthcare. Antimicrobial activities, minimum inhibition concentrations (MIC) and phytochemical tests of Mezoneuron benthamianum, Heliotropium indicum and Flabellaria paniculata ethanolic plant extracts were investigated against characterized Candida albicans, Candida torulopsis, Candida krusei, Candida glabrata and Candida stellatoidea isolated from human buccal cavity. The zones of inhibition for the whole plant extract of F. paniculata range from 12.8 ± 0.30 mm against C. krusei to 14.5 ± 0.50 mm observed against C. albicans while that of H. indicum range between 8.6 ± 0.50mm against C. torulopsis to 13.4 ± 0.50 mm observed against C. glabrata, and M. benthamiamun was from 7.8 ± 0.60 mm against C. glabrata to 12.8 ± 0.20 mm against C. krusei. Phytochemical tests revealed saponnins, alkaloids, anthraquinones, flavonoids and tannins in F. paniculata extracts, and M. benthamianum extracts is positive for saponins, anthraquinones, flavonoids and tannins. But, H. indicum contained saponins and tannins only. Between 5mg/ml and 8mg/ml was recorded as MIC for Candida species against F. paniculata. M. benthamianum recorded 6-15mg/ml while, H. indicum indicated 6-8mg/ml. The highest zone of inhibition in this study was obtained in F. paniculata followed by H. indicum and M. benthamianum consecutively. The conclusion was that there is the need to further investigate and characterize individual phytochemical compounds in these plants and their anti-candidal effect determined.