Antifungal Property of Piper betle Leaf Oil against Oral Candida Species

Fungal infection is one of the main clinical problems due to the extensive uses of broad-spectrum antibiotics and immunosuppressive therapy. Among all, candida species are the most prevalent. Piper betle Linn., a tropical plant intimately associated with pepper, has been widely used as a traditional herb in many Asian countries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of essential oil extracted from fresh leaves of P. betle against four strains of candida species, C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, C. pseudotropicalis and C. stellatoidia. Inhibitory activity was primarily screened by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion technique and subsequently the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by agar dilution technique. Betel oil exhibited a high potential of antifungal property against all strains of yeast with inhibition zones ranged from 32 to 33 mm. in diameter and MIC values of 0.039-0.078 % v/v. Data from this study demonstrates a potential application of betel oil in drug preparations and development for the treatment of candida infection. Further investigations are required to define the antifungal mechanism of this oil as well as clinical trial in the patients