Ceratobasidium ramicola IBRLCM127, an endophytic fungus isolated from Curcuma mangga Valeton & Zijp with strong anti-candidal activity

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.

Characterisation of Susceptibility of Candida Spp to Three Essential Oils A Study done in FIMS, Kadapa

In the present investigation, anti-Candida activity of three essential oils that is Betel leaf (Piper betel), Black cumin (Nigella sativa) and Curry leaf (Murraya koienigii) were screened against three human pathogenic species of Candida namely Candida albicans, Candida glabrata and Candida tropicalis. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the oils ranged between 14.80 and 236 µl/ml while studied through the dilution method. The oils retained their anti-Candida activities even after heat treatment (at 450C, 600C, 1000C for 1 hour) and also on autoclaving. Black cumin leaf oil showed better anti-Candida activity against Candida albicans, resulting in an irreversible damage to the cells. The anti-Candida activity of these essential oils could be attributable to the membrane inhibition mechanism. The activity of the cells is reported to be microbicidal.