effect of allium sativum [garlic] on the adhesion of candida albicans to human buccal epithelial cells

ABSTRACT

The minimal inhibitory concentration [MIC] of fresh aqueous garlic extract [AGE] on five strains of Candida Albicans was done using the tube dilution method. The effect of preincubation of Candida strains with the 1 MIC and 1/2 MIC of AGE was investigated on the adhesion of Candida to the buccal epithelial cells [EEC]. Preincubation of EEC with garlic and the adhesion of Candida to this pretreated BEC was also investigated on one of the strains. Adhesion of Candida to BEC was significantly reduced in three strains when the strains were incubated or treated with the 1 MIC of AGE, while it was significantly reduced in one strain only, when the Candida strains were incubated with the 1/2 MIC of AGE. The adhesion of one of the straijis to the pretreated BEC with AGE showed significant reduction