Evaluation of the antifungal efficacy of different concentrations of Curcuma longa on Candida albicans: an in vitro study

Introduction: Fungal infections have increased significantly, contributing to the cause of morbidity and mortality. The increase in antimicrobial resistance and number of patients at risk, in conjunction with the restricted number of commercially available antifungal drugs that still present many side effects, are the cause for this problem. These limitations emphasize the need to develop new and more effective antifungal agents. Materials and Methods: The present study was undertaken to investigate the possible antifungal action of the alcoholic extract of Curcuma longa in different concentrations on four dilutions of candida albicans (1:10, 1:20, 1:40, 1:80) and to determine its Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) using Seaboard’s agar medium. Results: There was complete inhibition of the growth of all four dilutions of Candida at a concentration of 800 µl which is considered as the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of alcoholic extract of turmeric on Candida albicans. Conclusion: The study indicates a potent antifungal action of C. longa against Candida albicans.