Antifungal Activity of Mentha Piperita Ethanolic Extract against Candida albicans and Synergistic Potential with Diclofenac Sodium

Abstract

This study investigated the antifungal effects of the ethanol extract of Mentha piperita (M. piperita) against standard and clinical Candida albicans isolates, compared its activity with that of fluconazole 100 mg (reference drug), and evaluated its potential synergistic effect when combined with diclofenac sodium (50 mg). The ethanolic extract of M. piperita was prepared using the maceration method with ethanol (75%). Antifungal activity was evaluated using the agar well diffusion method and was measured by observing the inhibition zones (mm). The results demonstrated that M. piperita ethanolic extract exhibited antifungal activity with inhibition zones (mm) ranging from (9.00±0.80 to 16.3±0.90 mm), and it was highly effective against 19% of C. albicans tested, while Fluconazole was effective against 9.5%. Furthermore, the combination of the extract and diclofenac sodium did not exhibit a synergistic effect; instead, a decrease in the activity of the extract was observed. These findings indicate that M. piperita ethanolic extract possesses various activities against the tested C. albicans isolates. Of all tested isolates, 71.4% demonstrated resistance to fluconazole. No synergism was observed between the extract and diclofenac sodium.