Aim Candida albicans can cause two major types of infections: superficial infections (such as oral or vaginal candidiasis) as well as life-threatening systemic infections, and Aloe vera extract is one of the potentially useful therapeutic options. The aim of this study was to determine antifungal properties of Aloe vera ethanol extract on vulvovaginal candidiasis caused by Candida albicans. Methods Aloe vera ethanol extract was prepared by the maceration method with 70% ethanol and dissolved in DMSO into multiple concentrations (6.25%, 12.5%, 25%, and 50%). Candida albicans was cultured in Sabouraud dextrose agar for 72 hours and disc diffusion method was used to evaluate the inhibitory effect of each concentration in comparison with fluconazole. Zones of inhibition at 72 hours were measured and documented, then analysed to get the mean inhibition zone (MIZ). Results After 72 hours, all concentrations of Aloe vera ethanol extract showed inhibition effect against C. albicans with mean inhibition zones of each concentration, 12.450±0.208 mm (6.25%), 13.975±0.457 mm (12.5%), 15.650±0.420 mm (25%), and 17.225±0.512 mm (50%), respectively. Fluconazole revealed comparable antifungal effect with MIZ of 11.025±0.478 mm. Oneway ANOVA test showed a significant effect of Aloe vera ethanol extract on inhibition zone of Candida albicans growth (p<0.005). Conclusion Aloe vera ethanol extract possesses concentration dependent activity against Candida albicans that is comparable with standard antifungal agents.
Spampinato C, Leonardi D. Candida infections, causes, targets, and resistance mechanisms: traditional and alternative antifungal agents. BioMed Research International. 2013;204237.
2.
Maccallum D. Hosting infection: experimental models to assay Candida virulence. Int J Microbiol. 2012;363764.
3.
Berman J, Sudbery P. Candida albicans: a molecular revolution built on lessons from budding yeast. Nat Rev Genet. 2002;918–30.
4.
Pfaller M, Diekema D. Epidemiology of invasive mycoses in North America. Crit Rev Microbiol. 2010;1–53.
5.
Sobel J. Vulvovaginal candidosis. Lancet. 2007;1961–71.
6.
Mayer F, Wilson D, Hube B. Candida albicans pathogenicity mechanisms. Virulence. 2013;119–28.
7.
Dovnik A, Golle A, Novak D, Arko D, Takač I. Treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis: a review of the literature. Acta Dermatovenerol Alp Pannonica Adriat. 2015;5–7.
8.
Sobel J, Sobel R. Current treatment options for vulvovaginal candidiasis caused by azole-resistant Candida species. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2018;971–7.
9.
Radha M, Laxmipriya N. Evaluation of biological properties and clinical effectiveness of Aloe vera: a systematic review. J Tradit Complement Med. 2014;21–6.
10.
Saniasiaya J, Salim R, Mohamad I, Harun A. Antifungal effect of Malaysian Aloe vera leaf extract on selected fungal species of pathogenic otomycosis species in in vitro culture medium. Oman Medical Journal. 2017;41–6.
11.
Kumar S, Yadav M, Yadav M, Yadav J. Comparative analysis of antimicrobial activity of methanolic extracts of Aloe vera and quantification of Aloe emodin collected from different climatic zones of India. Arch Clin Microb. 2015;1.
12.
Mpila D, Fatimawali F, Weny W. Uji aktivitas antibakteri terhadap ekstrak etanol daun Mayana (Coleus antropurpereus (l.) benth) terhadap Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, dan Pseudomonas aeruginosa secara in-vitro (Antibacterial activity test against ethanol extract of Mayana (Coleus antropurpereus (l.) benth) leaves against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in-vitro). Jurnal Mahasiswa Fakultas Kedokteran Untan. 2012;1–18.
13.
Dwijoseputro D. Jakarta: Djambatan. 2005;
14.
Zore G, Thakre A, Jadhav S, Karuppayil S. Terpenoids inhibit Candida albicans growth by affecting membrane integrity and arrest of cell cycle. Phytomedicine. 2011;118–90.
15.
Huslina F. Pengaruh ekstrak daun lidah buaya (Aloe vera l.) terhadap pertumbuhan jamur Candida albicans secara in vitro (The effect of Aloe vera [Aloe vera l.] leaf extract on the growth of Candida albicans in in vitro). Jurnal Ilmiah Biologi Teknologi dan Kependidikan. 2017;72–7.
16.
Kaur H, Goyal R, Bhattacharya A, Gupta R, Lal N, Arora B, et al. Antifungal activity of phyto-extracts of Piper longum, Aloe vera, and Withania somnifera against human fungal opportunistic pathogen Candida albicans. DU Journal of Undergraduate Research and Innovation. 2015;107–15.
17.
Renisheya J, Johnson M, Nancy B, Laju R, Anupriya G, Renola J. Anti-bacterial and antifungal activity of Aloe vera gel extract. International Journal of Biomedical and Advance Research. 2012;184–7.
The statements, opinions and data contained in the journal are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publisher and the editor(s). We stay neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
