Screening of Fungal Pathogens Isolated from the Oral Cavity and their Response to Plant-based Antifungal Activity

Fungal infections of the oral cavity are a significant health concern, particularly among immunocompromised individuals, due to their potential to cause systemic diseases. This study evaluates the antifungal activity of ethanol, methanol, acteone, and ethanol + methanol extracts from two medicinal plants, Simaruba glauca and Eucalyptus, against common oral fungal pathogens. A total of 30 oral cavity samples were collected from patients, with 25 testing positive and 5 testing negative for fungal pathogens. The infection were more prevalent in males (22 cases) than females (8 cases). The frequency of isolated oral pathogens was Aspergillus spp (0.43%), Rhizopus spp (0.13%), Candida spp (0.26%). The fungal isolates were characterized and identified through established microbiological methods, and their susceptibility to plant extracts was assessed using disk diffusion and well diffusion method. The results demonstrated significant antifungal activity of the plant extracts, highlighting their potential as effective and natural alternatives to conventional antifungal treatments. This study concludes that Simaruba glauca and Eucalyptus extracts may serve as promising therapeutic agents for developing novel antifungal treatments, offering a sustainable approach to managing oral fungal infections and reducing the burden of antifungal resistance.