Formulation Cassia alata L. Leaves Extract Gel and Antifungal Activity against Candida albicans Azzahra, Salwa Putri (a*), Yuni Anggraeni (a), Marissa Angelina (b)
a) Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitas Islam Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Indonesia *salwa.azara18[at]uinjkt.ac.id
b) Research Centre for Pharmaceutical Ingredient and Traditional Medicine, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Kawasan PUSPIPTEK, Building 452, Serpong, Tangerang Selatan, Banten 15314 Indonesia
Abstract
Cassia alata L. or locally known as Ketepeng Cina has been used as a traditional medicine to treat various diseases, especially skin diseases. Many studies have found that C. alata extract showed a promising antimicrobial activity against skin-infecting microorganisms such as Candida albicans. This study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of C. alata in the management of fungal infectious diseases caused by C. albicans in a topical gel formulation. Microdilution method was used to determine the Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) value of ethanolic leaves extract of C. alata against C. albicans. Gel formulations were prepared by incorporating C. alata in a carbopol-based gel and evaluated for physical parameters. Antifungal activity of the gel formulations was carried out by well diffusion method which two, four and eight times of the MFC value were used as the concentration of the extracts in topical gel. The MFC value was found at the concentration of 0,15625% where no growth of C. albicans had been found. The results of this study showed a linearity between the concentration used in gel formulation and the zone of inhibition of the yeast. Antifungal activity of gel with the concentrations of 0,3125%- 0,625%- and 1,25% showed an inhibition zone of 12 mm- 14,7 mm- and 20,7 mm respectively. Gel containing 0,3125% of the extract showed similar antimicrobial activity compared to ketoconazole 2% which used as a positive control. This study showed that ethanolic leaves extract of C. alata gel had a potential as an alternative herbal topical medicine to treat skin infections caused by C. albicans.
