In-vitro and in-vivo anticandidal activity of Trachyspermum ammi (L.) sprague seeds ethanolic extract and thymol-containing hexanes fraction

Abstract

Candida albicans is the causative agent of candidiasis in immunocompromised and diseased individuals. The current study was designed to evaluate the antifungal activity of Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague seeds ethanolic extract and hexanes fraction against Candida albicans, both in-vitro and in-vivo. The minimal inhibitory concentration of hexanes fraction was found to be 225 μg/mL, as compared to the standard drug amphotericin B (200 μg/mL). For the treatment of cutaneous candidiasis in BALB/c mice model, the extract and fraction containing ointment was topically applied on flank of mice at various concentrations, and 90–100% recovery in mice was observed which was better than the standard drug, clotrimazole. The GC/MS analysis of hexanes extract indicated the presence of three major components, including (43.91%), O-cymene (25.53%), and γ-terpinene (22.64%). The results showed that T. ammi possess potential antifungal effect, and can be used for the development of novel antifungal agents after further pre-clinical and clinical trials.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Trachyspermum ammi
• Ajwain
• Candida albican
• Cutaneous candidiasis
• anti-fungal activity
• gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
• thymol

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the enabling role of the Planning & Development Department, Government of Sindh, Pakistan, through a financial support for the project entitled, “Bench to bed preclinical and clinical studies for drug development against infectious diseases (leishmaniasis, candidiasis, and scabies).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s). The authors have no conflict of interest.