Evaluation of antifungal effect of methanolic extract of Teucrium polium on Candida spp. in vitro

Germanders with the scientific name of Teucrium polium has antimicrobial properties and has long been used in traditional medicine to treat many infections. The aim of the present study is to investigate the antifungal properties of methanolic extract of Teucrium polium against different Candida species. Briefly, after collecting from Borujen hills in Isfahan province in 2011 and preparing isolates of Candida albicans (NCPF 3153, ATCC 1677), Candida cruzi (CBS 537) and Candida globrata (CBS 2175), the extraction process was performed by soxhlet apparatus. Then the antifungal activity of methanolic extract of Teucrium polium was evaluated by well and disk agar diffusion method. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicide concentration (MFC) were determined. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 18 software using two-way analysis of variance (P <0.001). In the well and disk diffusion method, all concentrations of methanolic extract of Teucrium polium had an inhibitory effect on Candida albicans (NCPF 3153) and Candida cruzi species. The lowest inhibitory concentration (MIC) of methanolic extract of Teucrium polium on Candida albicans NCPF 3153 and ATCC 1677, Candida glabrata, and Candida cruzi isolates were 6.25, 6.25, 12.5, and 0.78 mg/ml, respectively. The lowest fungicide concentration (MFC) against both Candida albicans tested was 12.5, on Candida glabrata and Candida cruzi were 25 and 1.56 mg/ml, respectively. According to the results, methanolic extract of Teucrium polium plant had significant inhibitory activity against different species of Candida.