Citation: Mohamadi J, Havasian MR. The Study of Inhibitory Effect of Aqueous Extract Leaf of Avicennia marina (Hara) on Candida albicans, In Vitro. J Basic Clin Pharma 2018;9:01-03.

This open-access article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (CC BY-NC) (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits reuse, distribution and reproduction of the article, provided that the original work is properly cited and the reuse is restricted to noncommercial purposes. For commercial reuse, contact reprints@jbclinpharm.org

Abstract

Candidiasis is one of the most important and prevalent opportunistic fungal diseases in human. The leaves of Avicennia marina (Hara) have traditionally widely used in southern regions of Iran to treat different kinds of infections. The purpose of present research is to study the inhibitory effect of aqueous extract of Avicennia marina on Candida albicans in laboratory conditions. The leaf of Avicennia marina was collected from coastal areas of south of Iran and dried in the shade after washing and extracted its aqueous extract. The effect of extract was studied by disk diffusion and diffusion in agar methods with embedded sink in different concentrations. The value of MIC and MFC was determined by Macro broth dilution method. The results were analyzed using the SPSS version 21 software. In disk diffusion method in the concentrations of 200 and 1600 μg/ disk, the diameter of inhibition zone was 0 and 2.3 mm respectively, and in the concentrations of 10 and 80 mg/ml the diameter of inhibition zone was 0 and 2.7 mm in embedded sink method. It was not possible to determine the values of MIC and MFC due to very limited inhibitory effect of aqueous extract of Avicennia marina on clinical and standard species of candida albicans. According to the obtained results from present research, it can be noted that aqueous extract of the plant has less active ingredients with antifungal effects. It is suggested that phenolic and alcoholic extracts of Avicennia marina should be considered in future research.

Keywords

Aqueous extract; extract; hara; Candida albicans

Introduction

Candidiasis is one of the most prevalent opportunistic fungal diseases, caused by yeast called Candida.[1] In fact, Candidiasis is one of the most important fungal mouth infections which is caused by 8 different species of candida fungus, the most common of which is Candida albicans.[2] Various species of candida fungus are rarely found in human beings, because they are constantly eliminated by human immune system and other symbiotic microorganisms, such as microbial flora, which share their human target with them.[3] Infections caused by candidiasis include a wide range of plain complications, such as oral thrush and fungal vaginitis, which are considered as potential threats to human health.[4] this disease is transmitted to the infant after the labor if the mother suffers from fungal vaginitis.[5] Various strains of Candida albicans have been considered as important factors in the incidence of endodontic infections in recent years and they have become resistant to treatment in case of endodontic infections. [6,7] Candida species are the fourth cause of bloodstream infections in hospitalized patients and the cause of more than 40% mortality among hospitalized patients in USA.[8] In fact, the extent of the incidence rate of opportunistic fungal diseases on one hand, and increasing resistance to treatment and medical adverse effects on the other hand have generated a tendency to concentrate on antimicrobial effects of herbal medicines among researchers.[9] This belief, according to which some plants have therapeutic potentials, goes long back in history. [10] Generally speaking, Traditional treatments are cheaper and more effective and less causative in the incidence of infections with pathogen factors resistant.[11] Avicennia marina species belongs to Verbenaceae, or thymus, family which grows in Mangrove ecosystem; compared to other species in the area, it is more resistant against changes in water salinity and temperature atmospheric conditions.[12] Some effective factors discovered in this plant include Saponines, Steroids, Tanins, Triterpenes, Flavonoids, and Alkaloids,[13-15] given the extensive use of skin, leaves, and fruit of this plant in the treatment of skin disorders, tooth pain, leprosy and abortion, it is quite possible for aqueous extract of this plant to have significant antifungal properties. [16,17] Given the increasing drug resistance of various strains of Candida albicans, increased dosage of conventional medicines, and, subsequently, increase in side effects, researchers are becoming more and more interested in medical uses of various plants.[18,19] The present study was conducted to measure preventive efficiency of mangrove extracts on Candida albicans strains isolated from fungal vaginitis in laboratory-based situations, in an attempt to find minimum fungicidal concentration and minimum inhibitory concentration.

Material and Methods

Mangrove leaves were collected, washed, and kept in a dry place in shadow in Bushehr, the south of Iran; then, dried eaves were boiled in order to gain the extract, which is consistent with traditional methods. 10 gr of powdered leaves was mixed with 200 ml of distilled water and heated for 20 minutes under constant stirring; then, the mixture was stored in room temperature within a cap and passed through a finetextured cloth. Then, purified extracted mixture was stirred for 15 minutes at a speed of 3500 rpm centrifuge and placed on a flat glass in vicinity of air, until the solvent is totally evaporated and the extract powder is gained. Finally, the extract was stored in freezer until the time of use. Agar Well Diffusion Assay and Filter Paper Disk Embedding methods were used to determine antifungal activity of plant extract against Candida albicans in the present study.[20]

Microorganism

The samples of 30 clinical cases infected with fungal vaginitis Candida albicans referring to Women’s clinic were collected; ATCC 2091 Candida albicans was used as the standard strain.

Agar well diffusion assay

Well diffusion method was implemented with minor modifications,[21,22] 100 μl of 0.5 McFarland Candida albicans suspension was prepared and released on plates containing Sabouraud dextrose agar using sterilized loop; then, using a sterile pipette, four holes with a diameter of 5 mm was created in each plate. 35 μl solvent (distilled water) was added to the first well as negative control and 35 μl of different concentrations of the powdered extract was added to other wells. The planted plates were incubated and the results were recorded after 24 hours. The halo around each individual well was measured based on mm, which is taken to show antifungal activity of the plant extract.[23,24]

Disc diffusion

Sterile paper discs (Whatman No 1:5 mm diameter) were treated with different concentrations of dry extract and incubated.[25] then, discs containing different concentrations of plant extract and standard antifungal medications, such as Ketoconazole and Fluconazole, are incubated temperature in Sabouraud dextrose agar texture, containing 100 μl of 0.5 McFarland Candida albicans suspension for 24 hours. Discs included three types of solvent, plant extract, and common antifungal drugs. Activity and efficacy index was measured as the average of non-growth halo by dividing the average of non-growth halo by standard drugs.[26,27]

Determining MIC 90 and MFC

Macro-broth dilution and BHI Broth texture were used to determine minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration.[28,29]

Statistical analysis

The results were analyzed using the SPSS version 21 software.

Results

The lowest and highest inhibitory effect on various strains of Candida albicans in disc diffusion was related to different concentrations of 200 and 1600 μg/disc, with halo diameter of 0 and 2.3 mm; Ketoconazole and Fluconazole discs showed no inhibitory effect on clinical samples, but they had a minor impact on standard strain of ATCC-2091. According to the findings of well diffusion inhibitory method, the lowest and highest inhibitory effect on various strains of Candida albicans was related to different concentrations of 10 and 80 mg/ml, with halo diameter of 0 and 2.7 mm in order. Given minor inhibitory effect of mangrove liquid extract on standard and clinical samples of Candida albicans, it was impossible to measure minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration [Table 1].

Table 1: Results of the analysis of inhibitory impact of mangrove liquid extract through well and disc diffusion methods

Discussion

Given the increasing trend of the incidence of fungal diseases in susceptible individuals, including AIDS patients, diabetics, broadspectrum antibiotics consumers and individuals undergoing chemotherapy treatment, and intrinsic and acquired drug resistance, researchers have become more and more interested in focusing on possible efficiency of herbal medicines because of less adverse effects and quicker response.[30] Considering the already confirmed antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral potentials of mangrove leaves due to Brugierol, Carbamate, and Flavonoid of its structure,[31-33] and high functionality of tannins existing in mangrove plant as defensive components against invading microbes, mangrove leaves can be used as a defense system against various fatal elements.[34] Puniclain and Punicalagin are two main forms of tannin of mangrove which can play quite effective antimicrobial roles.[34,35] Given unsubstantiated anticandidal effect of mangrove liquid extract, the present study is conducted in vitro to assess inhibitory effect of mangrove liquid extract on Candida albicans. Considering the findings of former studies conducted to measure antifungal impact of various extract of mangrove, it is possible for present liquid extract to have antibacterial and antifungal impacts. The results of the present study showed minimal effect of mangrove liquid extract on clinical and standard samples of Candida albicans; the highest and lowest concentration, 0 and 2.6 mm, belong to various strains of mangrove liquid extract. However, according to Panahi et al. study, which was conducted to investigate inhibitory effect of mangrove leaves ethanol on various strains of Candida albicans, ethanol extract showed considerable efficacy in different strains of Candida albicans; the diameter of the halo turned out to be 18.7 mm in disc diffusion method at a concentration of 80 μg/disc and 20 mm in well diffusion method at a concentration of 80 mg/ml; minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentration for clinical samples turned out to be 55 and 70 g/mlμ.[36] this was not consistent with the findings of the present study. The results of Behbahani et al. which was conducted to assess antifungal effect of liquid and ethanol mangrove extract, mangrove extracts containing nutritional films showed to have stronger effect on penicillium digitatum in comparison to Alternaria citri.[37] Havasian et al. which was done to measure ethanol extract of Scrophularia striata plant on Candida albicans, showed insufficient impact of ethanol extract on various strains of this fungus.[38] thus, it is required to assess inhibitory impact of miscellaneous extract, which is consistent with the findings of the present study. Another study which was conducted on inhibitory impact of Nectaroscordum Tripedale on Candida albicans showed that despite the existence of saponin in the structure of Nectaroscordum Tripedale extract, this plant showed no inhibitory impact on Candida albicans.[9] The results of another study, which was conducted to investigate hematological, biochemical and pathological impacts of mangrove extract on rats, no adverse effects, such as behavioral or death-related, was reported in various strains of rats.[39] Various other studies showed considerable impact of various species of thyme on cancer cells and different bacterial species.[40,41]

Conclusion

Given the findings of present study in terms of desirable impacts of mangrove ethanol extract, it can be stated that mangrove liquid extract might hopefully have less effective antifungal impacts; therefore, it is recommended to investigate the impacts of phenolic and alcohol extract in further studies.

REFERENCES

1. Havasian MR, Panahi J, Pakzad I, Davoudian A, Jalilian A, Zamanian Azodi M. Study of Inhibitory effect of alcoholic and aqueous extract of Scrophularia striata (tashne dari) on candida albicans in vitro. J Pejouhesh 2013;36:19-23.
2. Nasrolahi Z, Yadegari MH, Moazeni SM. Antifungal effect green tea polyphenols (Camellia sinensis) on Candida albicans. J Med Sci 2009;12:71-7.
3. Panahi J, Havasian MR, Pakzad I, Davudian A, Jalilian F, Jalilian A. In Vitro Inhibitory Effect of Alcoholic Extract of Inner Stratum of Oak Fruit (Jaft) on Candida Albicans. J Pharm Biomed Sci 2013;3:5-8.
4. Behdani M, Ghazvini K, Mohammadzadeh AR, Sadeghian A. Antibacterial activity of Henna extracts against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeroginosa. Ofogh-e-Danesh. GMUHS Journal 2009;15:46-52.
5. Taghizade A, Danehkar A, Kamrani E, Mahmoudi B. Investigation on the structure and dispersion of mangrove forest community in sirik site in Hormozgan province. Iranian J of forest 2009; 1:25-34.
6.  Bandaranayake WM. Survey of mangrove plants from Northern Australia for phytochemical constituents and uv-absorbing compounds. Current Topics in Phytochemistry 1995;14:69-78.
7. Judaki A, Hafeziahmadi M, Yousefi A, Havasian MR, Panahi J, Sayehmiri K, et al. Evaluation of dairy allergy among ulcerative colitis patients. Bioinformation 2014;10:693-6.
8. Homhual S, Nuntavan B, Kondratyuk T, Herunsalee A, Chaukul W, Pezzuto JM, et al. Bioactive Dammarane Triterpenes from the Mangrove Plant Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, J Nat Produc 2004;69:421-4.
9. Zargari A. Pharmaceutical plants. Volume 3, Tehran University Press 1977.
10. Robert Y, Yuan L. Traditional Chinese Medicine: an approach to scientific proof and clinical validation. Pharmacol and Therapeut 2000;86:191-8.
11. Bandaranayake WM. Bioactivities, bioactive compounds and chemical constituents of mangrove plants. Wetland Ecology and Management 2002;10:421-52.
12. Menon T, Umamaheswari K, Kumarasamy N, Solomon S, Thyagarajan SP. Efficacy of fluconazole and itraconazole in the treatment of oral candidiasis in HIV patients. Acta Trop 2001; 80: 151-4.
13. Panácek A, Kolár M, Vecerová R, Prucek R, Soukupová J, Krystof V, et al. Antifungal activity of silver nanoparticles against Candida spp. Biomaterials 2009;30:6333-40.
14. Kanafani ZA, Perfect JR. Antimicrobial resistance: resistance to antifungal agents: mechanisms and clinical impact. Clin Infect Dis 2008;46:120-8.
15. Pfaller MA, Diekema DJ. Epidemiology of invasive candidiasis: a persistent public health problem. Clin Microbiol Rev 2007;20:133-63.
16. Eidi A, Eidi M, Givian M, Abaspour N. Hypolipidemic effects of alcoholic extract of eucalyptus (eucalyptus globulus labill) leaves on diabetic and non-diabetic rats. I J Diab Lip Dis 2009; 8:105-12.
17. Duarte MC, Figueira GM, Sartoratto A, Rehder VL, Delarmelina C. Anti-Candida activity of Brazilian medicinal plants. J Ethnopharmacol 2005;97:305-11.
18. Bagiu RV, Vlaicu B, Butnariu M. Chemical Composition and in Vitro Antifungal Activity Screening of the Allium ursinum L. (Liliaceae). Int J Mol Sci 2012;13:1426-36.
19. Jainkittivong A, Butsarakamruha T, Langlais RP. Antifungal activity of Morinda citrifolia fruit extract against Candida albicans. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2009; 108: 394-8.
20. Hosainzadegan HAM, Karimi F, Pakzad I. Study of antibacterial effects of ripped and raw fig alone and in combination. J. Med. Plants Res 2012;6:2864-67.
21. Khalaji N, Nistani T. Study of the inhibitory effect Black and green tea (Camellia sinensis) on Growth of Pathogenic Escherichia coli in vitro. J of Nut Sci and Food Tech Iran 2007;1:33-8.
22. Iwalokun BA, Ogunledun A, Ogbolu DO, Bamiro SB, Jimi Omojola J. In vitro antimicrobial properties of aqueous garlic extract against multidrug resistant bacteria and Candida species from Nigeria. J Med Food 2004;7:327-33.
23. National committee for clinical laboratory standards. Performance standards for antimicrobial susceptibility testing: ninth informational supplement NCCLS 1999;19.
24. Dangi AS, Aparna MS, Yadav JP, Arora DR, Chaudhary U. Antimicrobial potential of asphodelus tunifolius (CAV). JEMDS 2013;2:5663-67.
25. Egorov NS. Antibiotics: A Scientific approach, Translated by Alexander Rosinkin, MIR Publishers. Moscow 1985.
26. Alizadeh Behbahani B, Tabatabaei Yazdi F, Shahidi F, Mohebbi M. Antimicrobial effect of the aqueous and ethanolic Avicennia marina extracts on Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes and Pseudomonas aeruginosa” in vitro”. J of Iranian South Med 2014;2:15-22.
27. Taherzadeh M, Zandi K, Yaghobi R, Tajbakhsh S, Rastian Z. Antiviral activity of Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh. On Poliovirus in cell culture. Jof Iranian Med and Aromatic Plants 2008; 24: 35-46.
28. Bandaranayake WM. Bioactivities, bioactive compounds and chemical constituents of mangrove plants. Wetland Ecol Manage 2002;10:421-52.
29. Kato A, Takahashi J. A new naturally occurring 1, 2-dithiolane from Bruguiera cylindrical. Phytochem 1975;14:1458-61.
30. Abeysinghe PD, Wanigatunge RP, Pathirana RN. Evaluation of antibacterial activity of different mangrove plant extracts. Ruhuna J Sci 2006;1:108-16.
31. Bandaranayake WM. Survey of mangrove plants from Northern Australia for phytochemical constituents and UV-absorbing compounds. Curr Trpoics Phytochem 1995;14:69-78.
32. Jones GA, McAllister PA, Muir AD. Effects of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia scop.) condensed tannins on growth and proteolysis by four strains of ruminal bacteria. Appl Environ Microbiol 1994;60:1374-8.
33. Bandaranayake WM. Bioactivities, bioactive compounds and chemical constituents of mangrove plants. Wetland Ecol Manage 2002;10:421-52.
34. Bandaranayake WM. Survey of mangrove plants from Northern Australia for phytochemical constituents and UV-absorbing compounds. Curr Trpoics Phytochem 1995;14:69-78.
35.  Asress K. Investigation on anti-mycobacterial activity of some Ethiopian medicinal plants. Phytother Res 2001;15:323-6.
36. Muhammad HS, Muhammad S. The use of Lawsonia inermis linn(henna) in the management of burn wound infections. African Journal of Biotechnol 2005;4:934-7.
37. Habbal OA, Al Jabri AA, El Hag AH, Al Mahrooqi ZH, Al Hashmi NA. In-vitro antimicrobial activity of Lawsonia inermis Linn (henna). A pilot study on the Omani henna. Saudi Med J 2005;26:69-72.
38. Dadgar T, Ghaemi E, Bazvari M, Asmar M, Mazandaeani M, Seifi A, et al. Antibacterial activity of 20 medicinal plants against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. J Gorgan Uni Med Sci 2007;9:55-62.
39. Heidari Sureshjani M, Tabatabaei Yazdi F, Mortazavi A, Shahidi F, Alizadeh Behbahani B. Antimicrobial effect of Satureja bachtiarica extracts aqueous and ethanolic on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Scientific J of Biological Sci 2013; 2:24-31.
40. Ahmady Asbchin S, Safari M, Moradi H, Sayadi V. Antibacterial effects of methanolic and ethanolic leaf extract of Medlar (Mespilus germanica) against bacteria isolated from hospital environment, J Arak Uni Med Sci 2013;16:1-13.
41. Alizadeh Behbahani B, Tabatabaei Yazdi F, Shahidi Mortazavi A. Antimicrobial effects of Lavandula stoechas L. and Rosmarinus officinalis L. extracts on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Scientific J Microbiol 2013;2:15-22.