In vitro anti-Candida activity of Ficus lyrata L. ethyl acetate latex extract and Nystatin on clinical Isolatesand Standard strains of Candida albicans

In this study, the antimicrobial activity of ethyl acetate latex extract of Ficus lyrata L. and Nystatin on 65clinical isolates of Candida albicans from Vulvovaginal candidiasis and standard strain of C.albicans ATCC5027 were studied. The plant extract was obtained from Iranian commercial company. Inhibitory effects of thecrude extract analyzed by using the disk diffusion technique (Bauer et al., 1966). The obtained results showedthat Ficus lyrata L. extract has inhibitory effect on clinical isolates and type strain of C.albicans in lowerconcentrations than Nystatin drug with the diameters of inhibition zones ranging from 22 to 26 mm and 30 to 32for clinical isolates and standard strains of C.albicans, respectively. The diameter of inhibition zones forNystatin was between 16 to 20 mm and 21 to 24 mm for standard strain and clinical isolates of C.albicans,respectively. Based on the data analysis (Macro dilution broth method), the best MIC of Ficus lyrata L. ethylacetate latex extract on clinical isolates and type strain of C.albicans were 25 mg/ml and 2.5 mg/ml,respectively. The best MIC of Nystatin on clinical isolates and type strain of C.albicans were 36 mg/ml but MICof combination of both showed more potency than Nystatin alone (0.05mg/ml), which is a synergistic effect.The GC/MS analysis of latex showed that extract contains alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, Tannins, terpenoid.The present study forms the basis for further investigations to isolate active components, elucidated thestructures and evaluates them against wider range of microbial strains with the goal to find new the therapeuticprinciples.