EXPLORING THE ANTIFUNGAL POTENTIAL OF MEDICINAL PLANTS: A REVIEW

ABSTRACTThe problem of fungal infections is becoming more significant in global health because of theirincreased prevalence, high morbidity, development of resistance to antifungals, fewer treatmentalternatives, and presence in immunocompromised patients. This review is focused on theantifungal effects of medicinal plants, mainly taking into account the chemical composition ofthese plants, mechanisms of actions, therapeutic use and future perspectives for pharmaceutics.Secondary information was used as a basis for the review and was taken from research articles,systematic reviews, review articles, book chapters and scholarly databases. Some majorphytochemicals that help with antifungal activity in plants are alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins,terpenoids and phenols. They seem to work through a bunch of different routes includingtearing at the cell wall, altering membrane permeability, stopping ergosterol biosynthesis,causing oxidative stress, interfering with metabolism and more. This review is mainly aboutHibiscus rosa-sinensis, Bougainvillea spectabilis, Azadirachta indica, Ocimum sanctum andAloe vera. Even so, the evidence against Candida species is comparatively more extensive forneem, tulsi and Aloe, while the remaining two are mostly only promising in-vitro. Antifungalphytochemicals can be formulated as creams, gels, oral rinses, denture cleaners, vaginalapplications, wound dressings and also nano-formulations, or they can be paired with usualantifungal medicines. Still, gaps show up because plant origin varies, preparation techniquesare not the same, the concentration of bioactive compounds differs, plus toxicity, bioavailabilityand a few other issues, all of this makes clinic use harder. Overall, the review suggestsmedicinal plants can act as very solid sources for antifungal agents. But to turn them intoclinically useful phytopharmaceuticals, we need strict standardization, mechanism-basedstudies, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, and of course properly designed clinical trials, beforeanything can be claimed with confidence.