Anti-fungal activity of Carica papaya leaf extract against candida albicans and its synergy with fluconazole: an in-vitro study

Abstract

Background: In this study objectives were to evaluate the antifungal activity in increasing concentrations of ethanolic extract and aqueous extract of Carica papaya against Candida albicans and to assess the synergistic activity of ethanolic extract of Caricia papaya with flucanazole as a potential antifungal.Methods: The aim of the study was to evaluate the antifungal activity in increasing concentrations, 500 µl/ml, 750 µl/ml and 1000 µl/ml of ethanolic extract and aqueous extract of caricia papaya against Candida albicans and the synergistic activity with Fluconazole was assessed by observing the zone of inhibition in agar disc diffusion assay and by observing the turbidity in minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay.Results: It was observed that ethanolic extract of Carica papaya leaf showed significant antifungal activity in higher concentration of 1000µg/ml with zone diameter of 11.97±0.15 mm in disc diffusion assay and MIC of 350 µg/ml. The ethanolic extract of Carica papaya leaf with fluconazole showed synergistic activity with zone diameter of 13.6±0.45 mm in disc diffusion assay and MIC was 125µg/ml, whereas the standard drug Fluconazole’s zone of inhibiton was 12.83±0.9 in disc diffusion and MIC was 500 µg/ml.Conclusions: From this study, we can safely conclude that the Carica papaya leaf extract has a significant antifungal property and exhibit synergistic effect when used with fluconazole.