DNA gene expression of Candida albicans and the effect of alcoholic extract of some medicinal plants on its virulence factors

Candida albicans infections are often associated with biofilm formation. The expression of the ALS1, CAP1, CAT1, and LIP3 gene families is associated with biofilm growth on mucosal surfaces and with C. albicans virulence genes. The present study investigated the efficacy of the alcoholic extract of the medical plant (Mixed Camellia sinensis and Citrus aurantifolia and the extract of Mirabilis jalapa in relation to its antifungal properties against C. albicans and the effect on gene expression of C. albicans virulence factors. Twenty samples (swabs) were collected from patients with oral candidiasis; all of the samples tested were positive. Candida isolates were cultivated on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar and identified using standard techniques and HiCrome Candida medium. It was confirmed by molecular diagnosis and then by measuring the gene expression of virulence genes before and after treatment with selected plant extracts of different concentrations (50%, 75%, 100%, 200%) for both extracts. The Candida gene-expression data indicated that both extracts showed lower expression at the 100% and 200% doses than at the other concentrations.