Inhibitory effects of different fractions separated from standardized extract of Myrtus communis L. against nystatin-susceptible and nystatin-resistant Candida albicans isolated from HIV positive patients

BACKGROUND: and Purpose: Myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) is a medicinal herb that plays an essential role in treating fungal infections. The present study investigated the antifungal properties of different fractions of the M. communis L. leaf extract against Candida albicans (susceptible and resistant to nystatin). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total extract (TE) and petroleum ether (PE), chloroform (CH), ethyl acetate (EA), and methanol (ME) fractions were prepared using the sonication method. The study used the standard strain sample (ATCC 76645) and nystatin-resistant C. albicans from oral samples of HIV-infected individuals. The identification of resistant isolate was performed using phenotypic and molecular methods. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and Minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of the fractions along total extract were determined by microdilution method on nystatin-resistant and susceptible Candida albicans. The Folin-Ciocalteu method was used to determine the total phenolic content of the extract. RESULTS: The extraction yield (w/w) was 13.50 for TE, 2.10 for PE, 2.23 for Ch, 2.14 for EA, and 10.03 for ME fractions. Chloroform extract showed good anti-candida activity against nystatin susceptible and resistant C. albicans (62.5 ​μg/mL). Ethyl acetate fraction exhibited the greatest MIC against nystatin susceptible and resistant C. albicans (250 ​μg/mL). The MIC value of fluconazole was >64 μg/mL for both susceptible and -resistant strains. The amount of phenolic compounds of the total extract was reported to be equal to 5.4%, equivalent to gallic acid. CONCLUSION: Results revealed that the PE and CH fractions showed greater antifungal effects than the total extract against both susceptible and resistant strains of Candida albicans. It can conclude that active antifungal compounds of the plant belong to a specific group of metabolites, which according to the type of solvent, probably have non-polar nature. Further separation is carrying out.