The aim of this study is to determine the occurrence of Candida albicans in clinical specimens and studying its susceptibility to some plant extracts in Saudi Arabia.
One hundred twenty eight human clinical specimens from 98 cases suffering from oral thrush and 30 cases suffering from vulvovaginitis were examined by mycological examination. C. albicans was identified by standard methods. The susceptibility of C. albicans to nine medicinal plants extract (alcoholic) marketed in Saudi Arabia was examined.
The frequency of C. albicans in the examined urine samples and oral swabs was 82.65 and 86.7%, respectively. Zone of inhibition (mm) of C. albicans against different plant extracts in different concentrations (500-32000 μg/ml) ranged from zero to 10±0.1. The minimum inhibitory concentration ranged from 4000 to 32000 μg/ml.
C. albicans is common in ICU cases either those with indwelling urinary catheter or those with oral thrush. The anti-candidal activity of the examined plants extracts (alcoholic) may help in treatment and prevention of candidiasis