Basil Leaf Extract and Eugenol against Isolates of Candida sp. Causing Oral Candidiasis in HIV/AIDS

Abstract

Background: Oral candidiasis is an opportunistic infection of the oral mucosa caused by Candida sp., frequently found in HIV/AIDS patients. Basil leaf extract (Ocimum sanctum Linn.), which contains eugenol, a compound believed to inhibit the growth of Candida sp. Objective: To evaluate the antifungal susceptibility of basil leaf extract (Ocimum sanctum Linn.) and eugenol and then compared to fluconazole against Candida sp. isolates. Method: Basil leaf extract (Ocimum sanctum Linn.) with doses equivalent to eugenol 800 µg/mL and 400 µg/mL, eugenol doses at 800 µg/mL and 400 µg/mL, which was then compared with fluconazole 25 µg/mL against 40 Candida sp. isolated stored from the oral cavity of HIV/AIDS patients. Results: The average inhibition zone of fluconazole was 21.81 mm, the mean inhibition zone of eugenol with doses of 800 µg/mL and 400 µg/mL were 17.07 mm and 15.89 mm, and the mean inhibition zone of basil leaf extract (Ocimum sanctum Linn.) with doses equivalent to eugenol 800 µg/mL and 400 µg/mL were 14,87 mm and 14,01 mm (p = 0.001 and p < 0.05). Conclusion: Fluconazole had a significantly higher inhibition zone against Candida albicans and Candida non-albicans isolates than basil leaf extract (Ocimum sanctum Linn.) and eugenol. Keyword Basil leaf extract (Ocimum sanctum Linn.), eugenol, fluconazole, antifungal susceptibility testing, oral candidiasis, HIV, AIDS