Antifungal activity of crude glycolated extracts of Solanum tuberosum L. (white potato) peelings against Candida and Aspergillus species

@#<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Background:</strong> A rise in the number of immunocompromised patients has increased the risk of opportunistic fungal infections. Identifying novel sources of antifungal agents from commonly discarded materials (i.e. potato peelings) can provide a cheaper alternative for antifungal drugs.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Objectives:</strong> The aim of the study was to determine the antifungal activity of crude glycoalkaloid extract from Solanum tuberosum L. (white potato) peelings against opportunistic fungi Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Aspergillus flavus.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Methods:</strong> The glycoalkaloid content from dried potato peelings were extracted using ethanol and confirmed using colorimetric tests.The extract had a concentration 833.33 microgram/mL. Determination of the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the extract via two-fold broth dilution was performed for the five fungi with amphotericin B and fluconazole as the reference antifungal drugs.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Results:</strong> MICs of the crude extract for C. albicans, C. glabrata, A. fumigatus, and A. niger were not found within the concentration range of the studies and would thus need further experiments using a broader range of glycoalkaloid concentrations. The extract was found to have a MIC of 104.17microgram/mL for A. flavus, thereby verifying the antifungal effect of glycoalkaloid against A. flavus at said concentration.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Glycoalkaloids from Solanum tuberosum are a potential source of antifungals against certain opportunistic fungi.</p>

Current Opinion in the Treatment of Opportunistic Fungal Infections / 대한의진균학회지

Opportunistic fungal infections are significant causes of mortality and morbidity especially among the immunocompromised hosts. There is now increasing array of drugs available for their treatment. Amphotericin B is the most established and widely used antifungal agent and lipid-complexed amphotericin B preparations are introduced recently. The imidazole and triazole drugs have specific roles to play on the management of these patients. However, antifungal therapy is still limited by the lack of effective agents, lack of early diagnostic techniques to identify infection in its early stages and the developement of resistance. There are also few comparative studies of drugs within the increasing number of antifungal agents which would Provide a reliable basis for choice.