FUNGAL INFECTIONS BY CANDIDA ALBICANS AND CRYPTOCOCCUS SP. IN ALKHARJ GOVERNORATE: EFFECT OF THE METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF THE SAUDI SHRUB ABUTILON INDICUM L. ON RECORDED PATHOGENS

Background: The incidents of life-threatening complications in immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals due to hospital-acquired fungal infections are one of the major threats to patients. As most of the pathogenic microorganisms develop resistance to the drugs in use, the scientific world is in search of new natural molecules with promising action, and thus, the present study searched for such biomolecules against infections by two of the common fungal pathogens causing such infections viz., Candida sp. and Cryptococcus sp. from a medicinal plant Abutilon indicum L. Materials & Methods: The methanolic extracts of Abutilon indicum were analyzed for their antifungal potential against Candida sp. and Cryptococcus sp. by microdilution and agar diffusion methods. The antibiofilm efficiency of the extract was studied using the crystal violet method and the biofilm-eradication potential was quantified using biofilm formation assay. The hemolytic assay, time-kill assay, post-antifungal effect (PAFE), etc. were performed as per standard protocols. Results: The methanolic extract of the medicinal plant A. indicum showed remarkable antifungal activities against the selected pathogens and the MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration) was calculated to be 1 mg/ml against both C. albicans and Cryptococcus sp. The time-kill assay displayed the killing kinetics and it showed 3 hours against C. albicans and 4 hours against Cryptococcus sp. for complete eradication. The PAFE against both the pathogens was 5 hours for both the test pathogens. The biofilm inhibition of C. albicans and Cryptococcus sp. was observed till their MIC level and a then gradual increase in biofilm formation was observed. Three various concentrations of A. indicum treatment could effectively eradicate the mature C. albicans biofilms by 67%, 69 %, and 73% respectively. Cryptococcus sp. mature biofilms treated with the same concentrations of A. indicum showed 73%, 76 %, and 81% of biofilm eradication indicating the anti-biofilm effect of A. indicum. The hemolytic assay with varying concentrations of A. indicum extract revealed that it did not affect RBCs. Conclusion: As the plant extract showed potential antifungal activities including fungal biofilm eradication with no adverse effect on RBCs, the phytocompounds in the plant need to be purified and further investigated for its medical applications.