Antifungal Activity of Ephedra major Extract against Candida Albicans (ATC1677), Candida Tropicalis (CBS94), and Candida Globrata (CBS2175)

Candida species are among the major causes of opportunistic fungal infection in immunocompromised individuals, cancer patients, and organ transplants patients. Resistance to the antifungal medications has been on the rise. On the other hand, there have been several reports about the antimicrobial effects of different species of Ephedra major extract. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antifungal effects of Ephedra major against some Candida species.

In this experimental-laboratory study, after collecting E. major in the spring of 2014 from the mountains located in the west of Kermanshah Province, plant extraction was performed with ethanol, methanol, petroleum ether, and chloroform solvents. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) of E. major against Candida albicans (ATC1677), Candida tropicalis (CBS94), and Candida glabrata (CBS2175) were evaluated by macrodilution method. Then its chemical composition was determined by GC-MS.

Based on the results of this study, ethanolic, methanolic, petroleum ether, and chloroform extracts of Ephedra major had antifungal effects. Also, the most desirable rate of MIC and MFC were 15.6 and 31.25 mg/ml respectively for chloroform extract against Candida glabrata. The results of GC-MS also showed that phenolic compounds were the most abundant compounds in this plant.

The results showed that the anti-candidal activity of ethanolic, methanolic, petroleum ether, and chloroform extracts of E. major was considerable.