Antifungal efficacy of Azadirachta indica and Ficus benghalensis extracts against azole resistant Candida albicans on denture resin

Denture stomatitis is frequently associated with Candida species, particularly Candida albicans. The emergence of drug-resistant C. albicans strains has highlighted the need for alternative approaches to prevent and manage denture stomatitis. In this context, the antifungal effects of Azadirachta indica (neem) leaf and Ficus benghalensis (banyan) aerial root extracts were evaluated and compared. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of herbal extracts from A. indica and F. benghalensis were determined against azole-resistant, azole-susceptible, and standard strains (C. albicans MTCC 3018) of C. albicans using various solvents. A fungal adhesion assay and an evaluation of the antifungal efficacy of acrylic resin discs pre-treated with ethanolic herbal extracts were also conducted. The ethanolic herbal extracts inhibited all tested fungal strains, with a MIC of 50 µg/ml. A reduction in fungal adhesion of 72% ± 3.1% at 3 h and 76.7% ± 2.8% at 36 h was observed for the azole-resistant strain on denture base resin discs treated with the ethanolic extract of A. indica. The antifungal efficacy of A. indica-treated denture resin was 71% ± 4.2% against the azole-resistant strain and 100% ± 0.0% against the azole-susceptible strain of C. albicans. These findings suggest that the evaluated herbal extracts possess significant antifungal properties. The reduction in viable C. albicans adhesion to acrylic denture surfaces indicates the potential of A. indica to be used as a natural alternative to conventional antifungal agents for the prevention and treatment of drug-resistant denture stomatitis.