Antifungal effects of Allium ascalonicum, Marticaria chamomilla and Stachys lavandulifolia extracts on Candida albicans

Introduction: Due to increased risk for opportunistic fungal infections and increasing prevalence of hospital infections caused by pathogenic yeasts and fungus resistance to antifungal drugs, discovery of antifungal compounds with high efficiency is necessary. This study was aimed to evaluate and compare the antifungal activities of Allium ascalonicum, Marticaria chamomilla and Stachys lavandulifolia on Candida albians. Methods: In this study the plants extracts were prepared with macerated method using ethanol 70%. Antifungal activities of the extracts were performed according to microbroth dilution method in 96 well microdilution plates. The amount of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) based on counting the number of fungal colonies (CFU) were evaluated for each of Allium ascalonicum, Chamomile and Stachys lavandulifolia extracts compared with the control group. Results: MIC of Allium ascalonicum, Marticaria chamomilla and Stachys lavandulifolia were respectively 0.31, 3.75 and 15.13 mg/ml and also MIC50% of Allium ascalonicum, Marticaria chamomilla and Stachys lavandulifolia were respectively 0.93, 10.59 and 41.32 mg/ml and MIC 90% of them were respectively 8.65, 16.88 and 60.55 mg/ml and their MFC were respectively 20, 20 and 65 mg/ml. Conclusion: The results indicate that all three extracts are effective, but Allium ascalonicum possesses the highest antifungal activity on Candida albicans. If clinical trials approve these findings, this plant may represent a new source of antifungal agent for control of Candida albicans