In vitro study on the anti-microbial efficacy of Aloe vera against Candida albicans

Oral Candida infections are common among the people who are immunocompromised, with poor oral hygiene, diabetics and advanced age. Even though several effective antifungal agents are available for treating oral Candida infections, on prolonged and frequent treatment with these drugs, they may result in development of drug resistant organisms. This leads to looking for an effective, inexpensive and simple alternative. Therapeutic products of plants play an important role in human health since ancient times. The present study was conducted to determine the bioactive components from the ethanol extract of Aloe vera by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) and to evaluate the antimicrobial effects of A. vera extracts on Candida albicans. GC-MS analysis revealed that ethanol extract of A. vera contains 26 bio active compounds. The results of in vitro antimicrobial activity of ethanol, methanol and aqueous extracts of A. vera against Candida albicans showed high inhibitory growth in yeast after treatment with ethanol extract followed by methanol extract with an inhibition zone of 23 and 12 mm, respectively. Aqueous extract did not show any zone of inhibition. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of the extracts were also determined. From this study, it is concluded that, A. vera has potent antifungal activity against C. albicans. Key words: Aloe vera, gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS), antifungal, Candida albicans, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), the minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC).