ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hevea brasiliensis extracts could potentially be employed as a relatively low cost resource for various anti-fungal activities due to the simplicity of the extract preparation and its abundance especially in the tropical region. Latex B-serum was reported to have anti-cancer property and its specificity in anti-fungal property has not been elucidated. The present study was conducted to determine the anti-fungal activity of Hevea latex B-serum against Candida (C.) albicans (a rounded cell fungus) and Aspergillus (A.) niger (a filamentous fungus). METHODS AND RESULTS: The results showed that the anti-fungal activity of latex B-serum was specific to C. albicans but not to A. niger. The MIC value of latex B-serum for C. albicans was found to be 2.5 mg/ml. The time-killing profile showed that the growth of C. albicans was inhibited and the inhibition was prolonged throughout the tested time period. Brine shrimp toxicity test showed an LC50 of 461.0 mg/ml with latex B-serum, indicating the non-toxicity of the serum. CONCLUSION: Further purification and identification of the crude extract should point the way to bioactive compound(s) responsible for anti-Candida activity.
Subject(s)
Antifungal Agents/pharmacology , Artemia/drug effects , Candida albicans/drug effects , Hevea/chemistry , Latex/pharmacology , Animals , Latex/toxicity , Lethal Dose 50 , Microbial Sensitivity TestsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Hevea brasiliensis extract could potentially be employed as a relatively low cost resource for various anti-fungal activities due to the simplicity of latex preparation and the abundance of latex that can be obtained in rubber producing regions. The present study was aimed at examining the species specific anti-fungal property of H. brasilensis latex C-serum against Aspergillus niger. RESULTS: The results showed that the latex C-serum exerted a specific antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, but not Candida albicans. Low toxicity of the C-serum was demonstrated in Brine Shrimp Lethality Test (BSLT) with an LC50 value of 98.4 mg/ml. CONCLUSIONS: Pending further more elaborated investigations, H. brasiliensis latex C-serum, with its species specific anti-fungal and cancer-origin cell line specific anti-proliferation properties, would probably contribute in healthcare in addition to its traditional role in polymer industry.
