Antifungal Activity of Roots Barks Extract of Securinega virosa (Roxb. ex Willd.) Baill and Anogeissus leiocarpa (DC.) Guill. & Perr, Two Plants Used in the Traditional Treatment of Candidiasis in Northern Côte d'Ivoire

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate the anticandidal activity of some solvent extracts of Securinega virosa and Anogeissus leiocarpa from northern Côte d'Ivoire. Study Design: In vitro assay of antifungal activity. Place and Duration of Study: Biochemical Pharmacodynamy Laboratory, Biosciences Department, University Félix Houphouët-Boigny and Bacteriology-Virology Laboratory University Hospital of Treichville, Côte d’Ivoire between January and December 2013. Methods: The herbs studied were examined for diameter of inhibition zone using agar well diffusion method; minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC) using microdilution method. Results: All tested plants extracts, except the aqueous extracts, showed varying zones of inhibition against fungi tested. The diameters of inhibition zones for all organic extracts are greater than 10 mm for a sample concentration of 500 mg/ml and were significantly higher than for nystatine (p <0.05; p <0.01). The ethanol extract of Anogeissus leiocarpa revealed the strongest anticandidal activity against all tested strains with MICs ranging from 0.195 to 12.5 mg/ml, and MFCs from 0.390 to 50 mg/ml. The phytochemical screening of extracts shows the presence of polyterpenes and sterols, polyphenols, flavonoids, catechin tannins and alkaloids. Conclusion: S. virosa and A. leiocarpa possesse compounds with good anticandidal properties. This results support their traditional use in treatment of infectious diseases caused by certain Candida species.