ABSTRACT
Ceratobasidium ramicola IBRLCM127, an endophytic fungus isolated from the rhizome of the local medicinal plantCurcuma mangga Valeton & Zijp, was found to possess significant anti-candidal activity. This fungal endophyte wascultivated in submerged fermentation system using yeast sucrose medium supplemented with host plant water extractand cultivated at 25°C, agitated at 120 rpm for 12 days. The ethyl acetate was used as a solvent to extract compoundsin the fermentative broth. The fungal ethyl acetate extract demonstrated significant inhibitory zones toward cells ofCandida albicans with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 2.5 mg/ml, of which exerting yeastocidaleffect. The time–kill study conducted at three distinct ethyl acetate concentrations (half MIC, MIC, and 2 MICvalues) revealed that the growth of C. albicans cells was concentration-dependent. Yeastostatic activity was shownat lower concentration and yeastocidal activity was shown at higher concentration. The structural degeneration of theC. albicans cells after treated with ethyl acetate extract was observed under the scanning and transmission electronmicroscopes and the results exhibited various cell deformities including severe damage of the cell extracellularly andintracellularly which led to cell death beyond repair, thus suggesting that the extract could be a potential antifungalagent.