Antifungal Effect of Teucrium polium and Zingiber officinale Extracts on Clinical isolates of Candida Species

Abstract: Background & aim: Candida species are opportunistic pathogen that can cause superficial mucous membrane infections to life–threatening systemic diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal effects of Teucrium polium and Zingiber officinale extracts against isolated Candida sp. from urinary catheters. Mthods: In the present study, 55 urine catheters from patients of ICU ward of the 501 Army Hospital of Tehran were collected. The isolates were identified according to the classic and molecular techniques as Candida albicans, C. krusei, C. glabrata and C. tropicalis. Using serial micro dilutions method, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MICs) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) were determined. Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test. Results: The extracts of Teucrium polium and Zingiber officinale had inhibitory effects against C. albicans while it had no effect against C. krusei, C. glabrata and C. tropicalis. MIC50 of Teucrium polium and Zingiber officinale for C. albicans were 1000 µg/ml and 62.25 µg/ ml respectively, with P-value≥0.002. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the extract of Teucrium polium and Zingiber officinale had antifungal properties. Further investigations must be done to purify effective fractions of these extracts and to test their cytotoxicity before applying them in yeast infection treatment. Key words: Candida Species, Teucrium polium, Zingiber officinal