Antifungal Activity of Aqueous Extracts from Ferula Assa foetida Aerial parts on Candida Albicans and its Comparison with Fluconazole in vitro

Candidiasisis the most common human opportunistic disease with the prevalence and resistance of etiologic agents being increased as a result of increasing the immunosuppressed diabetics and malignancies. Candida albicans known as the most common agent of disease is one of the human body’s normal floras. The aim of the present study was to evaluate anti-Candida properties of the aerial parts of Ferula assafoatida compared with Fluconazole in vitro. In the current experimental lab-trial study a 35 mg/ml aqueous extracts ofIranian Ferula assafoatida aerial parts were prepared and then used for evaluation of their susceptibility against a standard Candida albicans using broth microdilution method. Different concentrations of this herbal extract and Fluconazole were used for determining the minimum inhibition concentration and killing on Candidasuspensions. Concentrations of 8.75 mg/ml aerial parts of Ferula assafoetida completely inhibited the growth of Candida albicans and killed all viable cells (MFC). Concentrations of 0.273 and 4.4 mg/ml Ferula aqueous extracts were also determined as MIC50 and MIC90. In case of Fluconazole, 128 µg/ml concentrationis determined as MFC and 0.5 µg/ml concentration is also known as MIC50. Results of the current study showed that the aqueous extract of Ferula assafoetida aerial parts has inhibitory and candidacidal effect against Candida albicans and further in vivo studies are suggested.