Test Antifungal Activity Of Pugun Tanoh Leaves Water Extract (Picria Fel-Terrae Lour.) Against Candida Albicans

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Test Antifungal Activity of Pugun Tanoh Leaves Water Extract (Picria Fel-Terrae Lour.) Against Candida Albicans

Introduction

Pugun Tanoh (Picria Fel-Terrae Lour.) is a plant from the Linderniaeae family that has been used as a potential traditional medicine to overcome various health problems, including fungal infections. The leaves of this plant are rich in chemical compounds such as flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, tannins, and steroids/triterpenoids, which are known to have antifungal activity. This study aims to explore the characteristics and content of chemical compounds in the simplicia of tanoh pugun leaves and test the effectiveness of its water extract on Candida Albicans, a common fungus that causes infection in humans.

Background

Candida Albicans is a type of fungus that can cause infection in humans, particularly in people with weakened immune systems. The fungus can cause a range of symptoms, from mild to severe, including skin infections, vaginal yeast infections, and life-threatening conditions such as candidemia. The current treatment options for Candida Albicans infections include antifungal medications, which can be effective but may have side effects and can be expensive. Therefore, there is a need to explore alternative treatments, including the use of natural products such as Pugun Tanoh leaves.

Methodology

In this study, the first step is to carry out the characterization of the pugun tanoh leaf simplicia, which is then extracted using the infundation method. After the extraction process, filtering is performed to determine the phytochemical content of simplicia and the resulting extract. Furthermore, to assess the activity of antifungal from water extract, a test is carried out by diffusion method to use a pencap paper soaked in extracts with various concentrations, namely 500 mg/ml, 400 mg/ml, 300 mg/ml, 200 mg/ml, 199 mg/ml, 198 mg/ml, and 100 mg/ml. This method aims to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (KHM) of the extract to Candida Albicans.

Results

The analysis showed that the simplicia of tanoh pugun leaves had a water content of 9.29%, water soluble juice levels 17.00%, ethanol soluble juice content 15.00%, total ash content 4.60%, and not acid-soluble ash content 0.32%. The phytochemical content contained in the Simplisia of Tanoh Pugun Leaves includes flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, tannins, and steroids/triterpenoids. Meanwhile, the water extract also contains flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, and tannins.

In the antifungal activity test, Tanoh's pugun leaf water extract shows varying results at different concentrations. At a concentration of 500 mg/ml, the resistance area produced is 8.40 mm, followed by 7.92 mm at 400 mg/ml, 7.32 mm at 300 mg/ml, and 6.50 mm at 200 mg/ml. This result shows that the higher the extract concentration, the greater the resistance area produced, but the effect begins to decrease at lower concentrations. KHM obtained from the extract of pugun tanoh leaf water against C. albicans is 200 mg/ml, indicating that at this concentration, antifungal activity begins to decrease.

Discussion

The results of this study show that the water extract of Pugun Tanoh leaves has antifungal activity against Candida Albicans, but the effect is classified as weak. This finding provides new insights in the use of Pugun Tanoh plants as a potential source in the development of antifungal therapy. However, further research is needed to increase the effectiveness of the extract and understand the mechanism of action of active compounds in it.

The combination of the use of this extract with other antifungal compounds can be a promising approach in an effort to overcome fungal infections, especially those caused by Candida Albicans. The use of natural products such as Pugun Tanoh leaves can also provide a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic antifungal medications.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study has shown that the water extract of Pugun Tanoh leaves has antifungal activity against Candida Albicans, but the effect is classified as weak. Further research is needed to increase the effectiveness of the extract and understand the mechanism of action of active compounds in it. The combination of the use of this extract with other antifungal compounds can be a promising approach in an effort to overcome fungal infections, especially those caused by Candida Albicans.

Recommendations

Based on the results of this study, the following recommendations are made:

  1. Further research is needed to increase the effectiveness of the extract and understand the mechanism of action of active compounds in it.
  2. The combination of the use of this extract with other antifungal compounds can be a promising approach in an effort to overcome fungal infections, especially those caused by Candida Albicans.
  3. The use of natural products such as Pugun Tanoh leaves can provide a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic antifungal medications.

Limitations

This study has several limitations, including:

  1. The study was conducted in a laboratory setting and may not reflect the results in a real-world setting.
  2. The study only tested the antifungal activity of the extract against Candida Albicans and did not test its activity against other types of fungi.
  3. The study did not investigate the mechanism of action of the active compounds in the extract.

Future Directions

Future studies can build on the findings of this study by:

  1. Investigating the mechanism of action of the active compounds in the extract.
  2. Testing the antifungal activity of the extract against other types of fungi.
  3. Investigating the use of the extract in combination with other antifungal compounds.
  4. Conducting clinical trials to test the safety and efficacy of the extract in humans.
    Q&A: Test Antifungal Activity of Pugun Tanoh Leaves Water Extract (Picria Fel-Terrae Lour.) Against Candida Albicans

Frequently Asked Questions

We have received many questions from readers about our recent study on the antifungal activity of Pugun Tanoh leaves water extract against Candida Albicans. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions and our answers.

Q: What is Pugun Tanoh and how is it used?

A: Pugun Tanoh (Picria Fel-Terrae Lour.) is a plant from the Linderniaeae family that has been used as a potential traditional medicine to overcome various health problems, including fungal infections. The leaves of this plant are rich in chemical compounds such as flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, tannins, and steroids/triterpenoids, which are known to have antifungal activity.

Q: What is Candida Albicans and why is it a problem?

A: Candida Albicans is a type of fungus that can cause infection in humans, particularly in people with weakened immune systems. The fungus can cause a range of symptoms, from mild to severe, including skin infections, vaginal yeast infections, and life-threatening conditions such as candidemia.

Q: What is the minimum inhibitory concentration (KHM) of the extract to Candida Albicans?

A: The KHM obtained from the extract of pugun tanoh leaf water against C. albicans is 200 mg/ml, indicating that at this concentration, antifungal activity begins to decrease.

Q: What are the phytochemical content contained in the Simplisia of Tanoh Pugun Leaves?

A: The phytochemical content contained in the Simplisia of Tanoh Pugun Leaves includes flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, tannins, and steroids/triterpenoids.

Q: What is the antifungal activity test and how is it conducted?

A: The antifungal activity test is conducted by diffusion method to use a pencap paper soaked in extracts with various concentrations, namely 500 mg/ml, 400 mg/ml, 300 mg/ml, 200 mg/ml, 199 mg/ml, 198 mg/ml, and 100 mg/ml. This method aims to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (KHM) of the extract to Candida Albicans.

Q: What are the limitations of this study?

A: This study has several limitations, including:

  1. The study was conducted in a laboratory setting and may not reflect the results in a real-world setting.
  2. The study only tested the antifungal activity of the extract against Candida Albicans and did not test its activity against other types of fungi.
  3. The study did not investigate the mechanism of action of the active compounds in the extract.

Q: What are the future directions for this study?

A: Future studies can build on the findings of this study by:

  1. Investigating the mechanism of action of the active compounds in the extract.
  2. Testing the antifungal activity of the extract against other types of fungi.
  3. Investigating the use of the extract in combination with other antifungal compounds.
  4. Conducting clinical trials to test the safety and efficacy of the extract in humans.

Q: What are the potential applications of this study?

A: The potential applications of this study include:

  1. The development of antifungal therapy using Pugun Tanoh leaves water extract.
  2. The use of Pugun Tanoh leaves water extract as a natural antifungal agent.
  3. The investigation of the mechanism of action of the active compounds in the extract.

Q: What are the next steps for this study?

A: The next steps for this study include:

  1. Conducting further research to increase the effectiveness of the extract and understand the mechanism of action of active compounds in it.
  2. Testing the antifungal activity of the extract against other types of fungi.
  3. Investigating the use of the extract in combination with other antifungal compounds.
  4. Conducting clinical trials to test the safety and efficacy of the extract in humans.