Antifungal Activity of Powder Blends of Eremomastax speciosa, Moringa oleifera, and Senna alata Against Digestive Candidiasis

Abstract

Fungal infections (candidiasis) are responsible for approximately 5% of the diseases observed worldwide. The treatment of these candidiasis involves the administration of antifungals such as fluconazole most often as monotherapy. The antifungal activities of blends of extracts from the leaf powders of Eremomastax speciosa (ES), Moringa oleifera (MO), and Senna alata (SA), have been scarcely investigated. This study evaluated the in vitro antifungal activity of blends of leaf powder extracts from ES, MO, and SA against yeasts responsible for digestive mycoses. All the extracts are rich in bioactive compounds whose structures include oxygenated and hydroxylated groups and carbonyl and nitrogen groups. The SA extracts had the highest total polyphenol content (25.02 ± 0.08 mg EGA/100 g DM), total flavonoid content (60.48 ± 0.27 mg EQ/100 g DM), and condensed tannin content (5.31 ± 0.25 mg EC/100 g DM). Several blends (M4, M10, etc.) have significant antifungal effects on Candida albicans, Candida krusei, and Candida parapsilosis with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFCs) of 125 and 250 μg/mL, respectively. All of these compounds have fungicidal effects (MFC/MIC = 2). Quercetin 3-O-(6 ^″-acetyl glucoside) appears to be the main bioactive compound responsible for the fungicidal antifungal activities. Only the M10 blend presented a broader spectrum of action than the other blends and fluconazole. The M10 blend had the best antifungal activity and can serve as a basis for in-depth studies to develop a drug based on these three plants in the fight against digestive mycoses associated with the Candida genus.