title: Effect of aqueous and ethanolic extracts ofLippia citriodoraoncandida albicans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Because of resistance and side effects to common antifungal drugs activity, the research on herbal substances with antifungal activity is frequent.Lemon verbena (Lippia citriodora)is a member ofVerbenaceaefamily. The aim of this study was to determine the anti-candida activities of the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of thelemon verbenaleaves and compare them withnystatinandfluconazole.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this 2015 study, 15 clinical isolates and standard strain ofcandida albicansPTCC 5027 were used, and the inhibitory effects of theethanolicandaqueousextracts,NystatinandFluconazole, were evaluated using disk and well diffusion methods. Also, the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined. Five concentrations ofaqueousandethanolicextracts (156-2500 μg/ml),Nystatin(8-128 μg/ml) andFluconazole(4-64 μg/ml) were used in disk and well diffusion methods, and nine concentrations of aqueous andethanolicextracts (19-5000 μg/ml),Nystatin(0.5-128 μg/ml), andFluconazole(0.25-64 μg/ml) were applied for MIC. Data were analyzed using Tukey's post-hoc and one-way ANOVA tests. The significant level was considered p < 0.05 in the current study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the well and disk diffusion techniques, limited growth inhibition halos were produced around some clinical isolates at different concentrations ofethanolicextract; however, no growth inhibitory halo was observed with any concentrations of the aqueous extract. The MIC values ofethanolicextract, aqueous extract,Nystatinand Fluconazole for clinical isolated and standard strain were 833 ± 78.5and 625μg/ml; 4156 ± 67.4 and 2500 μg/ml; 10.13 ± 1.91 and 4 μg/ml; and 1.97 ± 0.25 and 1 μg/ml, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showed that theethanolicextract was stronger than the aqueous extract of this plant, which can be used as an alternative for drugs. It is recommended that the ethanolic extract of this plant be investigated in vivo for better evaluation of its efficacy and properties.
authors.affiliation: DDS, MS, Faculty of Dentistry, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghasempour
authors.affiliation: Ph.D., Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Saeid Mahdavi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Omran
authors.affiliation: Ph.D., Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali Akbar
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Moghadamnia
authors.affiliation: DDS, Postgraduate Student, Faculty of Dentistry, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Faranak
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shafiee
keywords: Anti-Candida albicans activity; Ethanolic and Aqeoues extracts; Fluconazole; Lippia citriodora; Nystatin