Evaluation of the anti-candidal activity of methanolic leaf extract of cleistopholis patens (fam. Annonaceae) on candida species isolated from stage II HIV patients

DC Okechukwu, MA Momoh, CO Esimone

Abstract

Background: Candida species (sp) is implicated in causing opportunistic disseminated mycotic  complications in stage II HIV patients. Cleistopholis patens is a West African medicinal tree reported to have significant antifungal activity against C. albicans.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the anti-candidal activity of methanolic leaf extract of  Cleistopholis patens against Candida species isolated from stage II HIV patients.

Methods: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extract and Nystatin^®® was determined by agar dilution method. The killing rate studies of the plant extract and Nystatin® were also determined.

Results: The extract had activity against all Candida isolates, with the MIC against the five isolates ranging from 6.0 – 9.8 mg/ml. Nystatin^® also demonstrated plausible activity against the isolates with MICs ranging from 0.3125 – 25 mg/ml. Candida albicans strain 2 was the most sensitive to both extract and Nystatin^® with MIC values of 6 and 0.3125 mg/ml respectively. Candida krusei was the least  sensitive with MIC values of 9.8 and 25 mg/ml for the extract and Nystatin® respectively. The killing rate values for the extract ranged from -0.029 to -0.091 min^-1 and that of Nystatin® ranged from -0.076 to –0.11216 min^-1.

Conclusions: The results indicate that the methanolic extract of Cleistopholis patens is a promising clinical alternative besides Nystatin^® in the treatment of infections caused by Candida species in stage II HIV patients.

Keywords: Anti-candidal activity, Cleistopholis patens, Candida, HIV Patients.