In vitro Study Of Tissue-conditioner Supplemented With Antifungal Herbs

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the inhibitory effect on Candida albicans of tissue conditioner supplemented with Thai herb extracts. The newly developed antifungal herb supplementing conditioner is supposed to improve the quality of life of cancer patients undergone treatment and suffered from oral candidiasis with/without mucositis. Methods: Three herbal extracts (Clinacanthus nutans, Caesalpinia sappan Linn. Cymbopogon citratus) were dissolved and diluted with propylene glycol, then tested for their antifungal activity against C.albicans ATCC10231. After screened by agar disk diffusion, the Minimum-Inhibitory-Concentrations and Minimum-Cidal-Concentrations were determined by broth micro-dilution method. The MCC and higher of each herbal extract was selected and mixed in tissue conditioner. That is 0.5ml of each herb was added as a part of liquid portion prior to being mixed with conditioner powder, and further spread evenly into 6-well plates. Then the plates were exposed to inoculum for 24-48hr. Absence of colonies indicated the inhibitory effectiveness of herb supplementing tissue conditioner.

Results: C.nutans, C.sappan Linn. and C.citratus presented different degree of inhibitory effect on C.albicans in planktonic condition. C.citratus illustrated the greatest anti-Candida activity (MIC and MCC value of 0.0625 and 0.125µl/ml) whereas C.nutans contained the least (12.5 and 12.5mg/ml). C.sappan Linn. showed moderate antifungal efficacy (3.125 and 6.25mg/ml). Intriguingly, only tissue conditioner supplemented with 5.0%(v/v) or above of C. citratus extract expressed a potent inhibitory effect on C. albicans.

Conclusion: C.citratus supplementing tissue conditioner seems to be an alternative mean to retard the development of candidiasis normally observed in radiated patients with head and neck cancer.