Abstract

DETERMINATION OF THE ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF EXTRACTS OF VERNONIA AMYGDALINA ON MULTI-DRUG RESISTANT CANDIDA SPECIES

Ezejiegu Chinelo K., Bruno Ngozi U., Chukwunwejim Chidimma R., Ezejiegu Emmanuel C., Nwaneri Goodness U. and Ogwaluonye Uchenna C.*

ABSTRACT

Background: Candida species have been associated with human beings for quite long time as harmless commensals. However, they become opportunistic pathogens in immunologically weak and immune compromised patients. Vernonia amygdalina on the other hand has been known to possess ethno-medicinal use. The need for alternative sources targeted at multi-drug resistance organisms gave rise to this study. Objectives The study was carried out to determine the antifungal activity of Vernonia amygdalina extracts on isolated and identified multi-drug resistant (MDR) Candida species. Materials and Methods: Various extracts of Vernonia amygdalina were obtained using standard extraction and fractionation techniques followed by phytochemical screening of the plant extract. Antifungal susceptibility testing using conventional antifungal agents; Itraconazole (10μg/mL), Fluconazole (50μg/mL), 5-Flucytosine (100μg/mL), Amphotericin B (50μg/mL), and Ketoconazole (50μg/mL), were carried out toreconfirm Candida isolates as multi-drug resistant. The plant extracts were tested against the confirmed MDR Candida isolates and their activities determined by measuring the inhibition zone diameter. Results: The study confirmed the presence of multi-drug resistant Candida isolates following the antifungal susceptibility testing. The crude extract Vernonia amygdalina had better spectrum of activity than the Aqueous and Butanol extracts, while the Ethyl acetate and the n-Hexane extracts had no activity against any of the tested multi-drug resistant Candida isolates. Conclusion: The study showed that Vernonia amygdalina crude extract had a good activity against multi-drug resistant Candida species isolated. With the Aqueous and Butanol extract having little activity against the isolates.

Keywords: Vernonia amygdalina extracts, Antifungal activity, multi-drug resistant, Candida species.