Application of Hydro-ethanol Extract of Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl) in the Treatment of Experimental Murine Oral Candidiasis
Oluwole Moses David *
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.
Margaret Olutayo Alese
Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.
Tobi Oyewole
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.
Oluwole Ojo Alese
Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.
Adekunle Adegbuyi
Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.
Anthony Jide Afolayan
Medicinal Plants and Economic Development (MPED) Research Centre, Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice, 5700, South Africa.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Oral infection caused by Candida spp. is a major healthcare problem in dental and oral care. Treatment failure has been reported in cases of oral candidiasis as a result of resistance to common antifungals.
Aim and Objective: In this study, the in vitro and in vivo activities of extract of Tithonia diversifolia against virulence factor-borne and antifungal resistant-Candida albicans were investigated. Candida albicans was isolated from the saliva of patients attending a tertiary hospital in Ekiti State.
Methodology: Standard methods were used to determine the presence of virulence factors in the isolates. In vitro and in vivo anti-candidal activities of the hydro-ethanolic extract of T. diversifolia were also tested on the test fungus.
Results: The virulence factors have varying percentage of occurrence in all the isolates with catalase having the highest. Itraconazole and nystatin were not effective against the isolates. Out of the six isolates selected (based on antifungal resistance) only three produced strong biofilm. The reduction in the population of the test organisms by the extract was time and concentration dependent. At the end of candidal challenge and treatment assays, extract of T. diversifolia has lower anti-candidal property compared to nystatin.
Conclusion: This study has shown that C. albicans associated with the mouth carries virulence factors and are resistant to common antifungals. In this work, we noticed antifungal effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of T. diversifolia on C. albicans associated with oral infections.
Keywords: Candida albicans, oral infection, Tithonia diversifolia, virulence, biofilm, candidiasis