Efek Seduhan Freeze-Dried Cascara Kopi Robusta (Coffea canephora) Varietas Flores Bajawa terhadap Pertumbuhan Candida albicans In Vitro

Candida albicans is a pathogenic opportunistic fungus that easily adapts and frequently causes infections in humans. Given the limitations of antifungal drug options, the continuous development of resistance among Candida species to most currently used antifungal drugs, drug interactions, side effects, toxicity, and the potential for hypersensitivity, there is a need to discover and develop new antifungal agents that can effectively address these threats. Cascara, the skin of coffee fruit usually considered waste, has potential as a natural antifungal agent. The cascara from robusta coffee used in this study was processed through extraction followed by freeze-drying to preserve its bioactive compounds. The aim of this research is to evaluate the effect of freeze-dried cascara robusta coffee infusion from the Flores Bajawa variety on the growth of C. albicans in vitro. The research subjects were suspensions of C. albicans in Sabouraud dextrose agar that received treatment. There were 6 study groups: positive control (nystatin 100,000 IU), negative control (distilled water), treatment group by administering freeze-dried cascara infusion of various concentrations, namely E1(100%), E2 (50%), E3 (25%), and E4 (12.5%). The antifungal activity test was conducted using the agar well diffusion method and observed by measuring the inhibition zones formed after the incubation stage. The study showed that 100% and 50% concentration of freeze-dried cascara infusion can inhibit the growth of C. albicans. Freeze-dried robusta coffee cascara infusion can inhibit the growth of C. albicans. There was equality of antifungal effect between nystatin and 100% concentration of freeze-dried cascara infusion.