Avicenna Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Background: The most prevalent fungal infection in the mouth is Candidiasis, which causes various problems for patients. Chemical treatments such as nystatin are the most common methods that are locally used for the mouth that tastes bitter. The repeated use of this method 4 times a day and its preparation during the total consumption lead to patients’ dissatisfaction. Herbal treatments due to less medicinal side effects while having equal effects can be a suitable alternative to chemical treatments. Accordingly, this research focused on evaluating the effect of the herbal extract of the antifungal palm on the types of Candida and then comparing it with Nystatin.

Methods: To this end, the effect of the herbal extract of antifungal palm on 4 types of Candida (i.e., albicans, glabrata, tropicalis, and parapsilosis) was investigated, and then the results were compared with that of nystatin, which is diagnosed by the broth microdilution method. The result of the study is descriptive, and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in the blue palm herbal extract was studied in comparison with nystatin for 20 isolated Candida.

Results: Based on the result, MIC in the palm herbal extract was (mL/mg) 0.25-0.5 while the inhibitory effect of nystatin growth in this type was 0.125-0.5 (mg/L), and the MIC of the remaining types of Candida, including tropicalis, glabrata, and parapsilosis was 1-0.5 (mg/mL), 0.5-2, and 0.5-1. Finally, the inhibitory effect of growth (MIC) in nystatin drugs in the mentioned types was 0.5-0.25 (mg/L), 0.5-1, and 0.5-0.25.

Conclusion: Overall, the activity of the antifungal palm herbal extract is suitable against the examined types of Candida, and this extract may be used as a drug or mouthwash for candidiasis patients.