Synergistic Effects of Plant Extracts and Antifungal Drugs on C. albicans

Background: Fungi have surrounded us and have affected our life, when changed or getting out from control it should be treated and when change to multi drug resistant it is difficult to treat by antibiotics so we can use plant extracts to produce valuable protection against infection. Objective: In this study, we used agar well diffusion method to investigate the effect of antifungal drug of plant extracts on Candida albicans. Methods: Candida albicans was isolated from oral cavity of Sulaimani Emergency hospital patients. The isolates consisted C. albicans (n=15). The microorganisms were divided into four groups in a factorial design: control, FGE with blackseed, FGE without black seed, black seed without FGE and antibiotic (Fluconazole). The minimum inhibitory concentration of FGE was calculated by using a gradient of concentrations and observing their inhibitory effects on C. albicans. Results: Fresh garlic extract (FGE extract) displayed evident inhibition against Candida albicans by producing more inhibition zone (p<0.05), Black seed extract (BL extract) showed no inhibitory effect on C. albicans at 10% concentration. However, synergism of BI with FGE have shown significant effects on it (P<0.05) and fluconazole had little effect on Candida albicans. Conclusion: The result suggests that FGE can improve the antibiotic sensitivity and BI don’t effect on C. albicans.