Abstract:
Background: Candida albicans is an opportunistic pathogenic fungus accounting
for up to 75% of all candidal infections in human beings. Generally Candida grow
and survive as commensals but slight modification of the host defense system can
transform Candida albicans into a pathogen.
Materials and Methods: Samples collected from the oral cavity and tongue of the
patients suspected of suffering from oral candidiasis were incubated for growth of
Candida. Fermentation and assimilation test confirmed the species as Candida
albicans. Disc method was used to assess the in-vitro anti-candidal effect of few
homoeopathic drugs in 30 and 200 potencies against human pathogenic Candida
albicans under in-vitro conditions and compared with standard antifungal drug
ketoconazole (control), rectified spirit (control/vehicle) and distilled water (vehicle) by
“inhibition zone technique”.
Results: Homeopathic drugs namely Acid benzoicum, Apis mellifica, Kali iodatum,
Mezereum, Petroleum, Sulphur, Tellurium, Sulphur iodatum, Graphites, Sepia, Silicea
and Thuja occidentalis in 30 and 200 potencies were tested against Candida albicans.
Mezereum in 200 and 30 potency showed maximum inhibition of growth of Candida
albicans followed by Kali iodatum 200 while Kali iodatum 30 and Petroleum 30 had
minimum inhibition.
Conclusion: The results of these experiments support the concept of “evidence based
medicine” depicting that homoeopathic medicines not only work in in-vivo but are equally
effective in in-vitro conditions having definite inhibitory activity against Candida albicans.
