Anti-Mycotic Effect Of 'Kusum Oil' Extract On Candida Albicans Clinical Isolates From Endophthalmitis Cases

Abstract

Oil extracted from seeds of Schleichera trijuga which is an unexplored plant from a local natural reserve forest in Orissa (India) was tested in order to explore a possible indigenous source of anti-fungal agent. Ripen fruits of S. trijuga (“Kusum”) were collected in its natural fruiting season and the oil fraction from sun dried seeds was extracted. This indigenous oil preparation (Kusum Oil) was tested for its anti-fungal activity against a total of 64 Candida albicans isolates collected from infectious vitreous fluid of endophthalmitis patients. Its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was estimated to be 333.33 ml/ml when tested against C. albicans clinical isolates as well as the standard strain. Minimum detectable action time was found to be varying between 8 to 12 hours. The ‘Kusum Oil’ at its MIC was effective against 81.25% clinical isolates of C. albicans which was as efficient as Amphotericine-B and higher than Itraconazole (73.44%), Clotrimazole (71.875%), Nystatin (68.75%) and Fluconazole (59.375%). In our study ‘Kusum Oil’ was found to be an effective anti-mycotic agent against C. albicans clinical isolates that expanded its medicinal utility possibly as an alternative source of anti-fungal agent.