In vitro evaluation of corn silk extract as a potential alternative therapy for vulvovaginal candidiasis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2478/AMB-2023-0039Keywords:
Candida albicans, corn silk extract, vulvovaginal candidiasisAbstract
Aim: To determine the eff ectivity of corn silk extract in inhibiting the growth of C. albicans.
Materials and Methods: Corn silk used in this study was Zea mays L. var. indurata and was collected from Desa Suka Makmur, Deli Serdang, Sumatera Utara Province, Indonesia. Tested C. albicans is C. albicans from VVC patients, obtained from the Microbiology Laboratory of Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara. Preparation of this study included corn silk extraction by maceration method with 96% ethanol, followed by dilution with 10% DMSO (Dimethyl Sulfoxide) into concentrations of 75%, 50%, 25%, and 12.5%. Well diff usion method was used to detect growth inhibition of C. albicans and agar dilution was used to determine MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) and MFC (Minimum Fungicidal Concentration) of corn silk extract. Data were statistically analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis analysis. Results: From this study, corn silk extract of all concentrations showed an inhibitory eff ect against C. albicans. The mean diameter of inhibition zones for each concentration respectively from highest to lowest concentration were 27.4875 ± 0.3838 mm, 26.7250 ± 0.2533 mm, 25.7250 ± 0.2598 mm, and 24.9375 ± 0.2462 mm. Kruskal-Wallis analysis showed signifi cant results (p-value 0.001). MIC and MFC were 1.5625% and 6.25%, respectively.
Conclusions: Corn silk extract of concentrations 75%, 50%, 25%, and 12,5% have antifungal activity against C. albicans. The higher the concentration of corn silk extract, the higher the effi cacy in inhibiting the growth of C. albicans.
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