Evaluation of antifungal activity of different homoeopathic mother tinctures against Candida albicans

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the antifungal activity of different homoeopathic mother tinctures against the growth of Candida albicans. Materials and Methods: Homoeopathic mother tinctures (ф) Syzygium jambolanum, Ficus religiosa, Ocimum sanctum, Allium cepa, Thuja occidentalis, Holarrhena antidysenterica and Eucalyptus globulus were evaluated for their antifungal activity against the growth of human pathogenic fungi C. albicans using paper disc agar diffusion method as per guidelines of clinical and laboratory standard (M44-A) with slight modifi cation. The diameters of zone (mm) of inhibition were measured, and the obtained results were compared with that of the vehicle control. Ketoconazole was used as reference standard fungicide. Results: Seven homoeopathic mother tinctures were used in this study and the results indicates that some of the homoeopathic drugs in the study showed signifi cant inhibitory activity against the growth of C. albicans as compared to control. Out of the seven medicines tested, S. jambolanum showed a maximum zone of inhibition as compared to other mother tinctures used. The effectiveness of zone inhibition against the growth of human pathogenic fungi C. albicans are S. jambolanum > T. occidentalis > A. cepa > F. religiosa > E. globulus > O. sanctum > H. antidysenterica. Conclusion: The present study suggests the inhibitory role of homoeopathic medicines against human pathogenic fungi C. albicans.Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the antifungal activity of different homoeopathic mother tinctures against the growth of Candida albicans. Materials and Methods: Homoeopathic mother tinctures (ф) Syzygium jambolanum, Ficus religiosa, Ocimum sanctum, Allium cepa, Thuja occidentalis, Holarrhena antidysenterica and Eucalyptus globulus were evaluated for their antifungal activity against the growth of human pathogenic fungi C. albicans using paper disc agar diffusion method as per guidelines of clinical and laboratory standard (M44-A) with slight modifi cation. The diameters of zone (mm) of inhibition were measured, and the obtained results were compared with that of the vehicle control. Ketoconazole was used as reference standard fungicide. Results: Seven homoeopathic mother tinctures were used in this study and the results indicates that some of the homoeopathic drugs in the study showed signifi cant inhibitory activity against the growth of C. albicans as compared to control. Out of the seven medicines tested, S. jambolanum showed a maximum zone of inhibition as compared to other mother tinctures used. The effectiveness of zone inhibition against the growth of human pathogenic fungi C. albicans are S. jambolanum > T. occidentalis > A. cepa > F. religiosa > E. globulus > O. sanctum > H. antidysenterica. Conclusion: The present study suggests the inhibitory role of homoeopathic medicines against human pathogenic fungi C. albicans.