Comparative Antifungal Study of Methanolic Extracts of Senna auriculata and Lawsonia inermis

Background

Fungal infections pose a serious threat to human health. Infections commonly known as mycoses, particularly those caused by Candida pose a remarkable challenge, especially in immunosuppressed patients. These fungal infections are often treated by using topical or systemic antifungal agents. They mainly act by interrupting integrity of fungal cell membrane and inhibiting ergosterol synthesis. Nowadays many phytoconstituents are found to provide potential antifungal agents. The phytochemicals present in the plants Senna auriculata and Lawsonia inermis have promising antifungal properties.

Materials and Methods

This study assessed the antifungal activity of methanolic extracts of Senna auriculata and Lawsonia inermis against Candida albicans using Infrared (IR) spectroscopy, preliminary phytochemical screening and antifungal testing by disc diffusion method using fluconazole discs (25 µg/disc) as positive control.

Results

Both extracts demonstrated concentration-dependent antifungal activity against Candida albicans by producing a 9 mm inhibition zone at 2000 µg/mL. Also, at 4000 µg/mL, Senna auriculata and Lawsonia inermis demonstrated inhibition zones of 12 mm and 13 mm respectively.

Conclusion

These findings indicate that both plant extracts possess significant antifungal properties, with Lawsonia inermis showing slightly greater antifungal activity at higher concentrations.