title: Evaluation of the anti-candidal activity of methanolic leaf extract of cleistopholis patens (fam. Annonaceae) on candida species isolated from stage II HIV patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Candida species (sp) is implicated in causing opportunistic disseminated mycotic complications in stage II HIV patients. Cleistopholis patens is a West African medicinal tree reported to have significant antifungal activity against C. albicans.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine the anti-candidal activity of methanolic leaf extract of Cleistopholis patens against Candida species isolated from stage II HIV patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extract and Nystatin®® was determined by agar dilution method. The killing rate studies of the plant extract and Nystatin® were also determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The extract had activity against all Candida isolates, with the MIC against the five isolates ranging from 6.0 - 9.8 mg/ml. Nystatin® also demonstrated plausible activity against the isolates with MICs ranging from 0.3125 - 25 mg/ml. Candida albicans strain 2 was the most sensitive to both extract and Nystatin® with MIC values of 6 and 0.3125 mg/ml respectively. Candida krusei was the least sensitive with MIC values of 9.8 and 25 mg/ml for the extract and Nystatin® respectively. The killing rate values for the extract ranged from -0.029 to -0.091 min(-1) and that of Nystatin® ranged from -0.076 to -0.11216 min(-1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that the methanolic extract of Cleistopholis patens is a promising clinical alternative besides Nystatin® in the treatment of infections caused by Candida species in stage II HIV patients.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Microbiology Unit of Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Okechukwu
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Microbiology Unit of Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Mumuni A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Momoh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Charles O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Esimone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D029061:Annonaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002175:Candida / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009761:Nystatin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009761:Nystatin
keywords: Anti-candidal activity; Candida; Cleistopholis patens; HIV Patients