Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is the second most common vaginal infection that affects women of reproductive age. Its increased occurrence and associated treatment cost coupled to the rise in resistance of the causative pathogen to current antifungal therapies has necessitated the need for the discovery and development of novel effective antifungal agents for the treatment of the disease. We report in this study the anti-Candida albicans activity of Solanum torvum 70% ethanol fruit extract (STF), fractions and some isolated compounds against four (4) fluconazole-resistant strains of C. albicans. We further report on the effect of the isolated compounds on the antifungal activity of fluconazole and voriconazole in the resistant isolates as well as their inhibitory effect on C. albicans biofilm formation. STF was fractionated using n-hexane, chloroform (CHCl3) and ethyl acetate (EtOAc) to obtain four respective major fractions, which were then evaluated for anti-C. albicans activity using the microbroth dilution method. The whole extract and fractions recorded MICs that ranged from 0.25 to 16.00 mg/mL. From the most active fraction, STF- CHCl3 (MIC = 0.25–1.00 mg/mL), four (4) known compounds were isolated as Betulinic acid, 3-oxo-friedelan-20α-oic acid, Sitosterol-3-β-D-glucopyranoside and Oleanolic acid. The compounds demonstrated considerably higher antifungal activity (0.016 to 0.512 mg/mL) than the extract and fractions and caused a concentration-dependent anti-biofilm formation activity. They also increased the sensitivity of the C. albicans isolates to fluconazole. This is the first report of 3-oxo-friedelan-20α-oic acid in the plant as well as the first report of betulinic acid, sitosterol-3-β-D-glucopyranoside and oleanolic acid from the fruits of S. torvum. The present study has demonstrated the anti-C. albicans activity of the constituents of S. torvum ethanol fruit extract and also shown that the constituents possess anti-biofilm formation and resistance modulatory activities against fluconazole-resistant clinical C. albicans isolates.
Adansonia digitata L. is a tree indigenous to Ghana and West Africa. It is traditionally used for medicinal, religious and nutritional purposes. Different parts of the plant are used traditionally for the treatment of diseases such as anaemia, malaria, asthma and diarrhoea among others. It is therefore necessary to provide standard parameters for identification and for the purpose of quality control. This study thus sought to investigate the pharmacognostic characteristics and elemental properties of the leaves and stem bark of A. digitata grown and used in Ghana. The macroscopic and microscopic characteristics, phytochemical, physicochemical, fluorescence and elemental properties of the leaf and stem bark were determined using standard protocols. The results of the study showed that the leaves of A. digitata were palmate compound and alternately arranged with stipules at each node. The outer bark was observed to be grey in color while the inner bark was pink to brown and laticiferous. Anomocytic stomata and stellate trichomes were also observed microscopically on the leaf surface. The powdered stem bark contained brachysclereids and prismatic calcium oxalate crystals. Saponins, tannins, flavonoids and alkaloids were detected in both leaf and stem bark. They additionally exhibited different fluorescence characters in various solvents. The plant contained major and minor nutritional elements in varying quantities. The results of this study can serve as reliable parameters for accurate identification and authentication of A. digitata L. hence ensuring quality.
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