Anti-biofilm Properties of Peganum harmala against Candida albicans

Osong Public Health Res Perspect. 2016 Apr;7(2):116-8. doi: 10.1016/j.phrp.2015.12.010. Epub 2016 Jan 8.

Abstract

Objectives: Vaginitis still remains as a health issue in women. It is notable that Candida albicans producing biofilm is considered a microorganism responsible for vaginitis with hard to treat. Also, Peganum harmala was applied as an anti fungal in treatment for many infections in Iran. Therefore, this study goal to investigate the role of P. harmala in inhibition of biofilm formation in C. albicans.

Methods: So, 27 C. albicans collected from women with Vaginitis, then subjected for biofilm formation assay. P. harmala was applied as antibiofilm formation in C. albicans.

Results: Our results demonstrated that P. harmala in concentration of 12 μg/ml easily inhibited strong biofilm formation; while the concentrations of 10 and 6 μg/ml inhibited biofilm formation in moderate and weak biofilm formation C. albicans strains, respectively.

Conclusion: Hence, the current study presented P. harmala as antibiofilm herbal medicine for C. albicans; but in vivo study suggested to be performed to confirm its effectiveness.

Keywords: Candida albicans; Peganum harmala; biofilm formation.