Ethanol Extracted Carica papaya L. Leaves: In Vitro Antifungal Activity Against Candida albicans

Callishta Theodora Sutanto; Primta Bangun; Irza Haicha Pratama

doi:10.51673/jips.v7i3.2901

Callishta Theodora Sutanto Undergraduate Program, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Universitas Prima Indonesia, Indonesia
Primta Bangun Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Universitas Prima Indonesia, Indonesia
Irza Haicha Pratama Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Universitas Prima Indonesia, Indonesia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.51673/jips.v7i3.2901

Keywords: Antifungal agent, Candida albicans, Carica papaya L., Inhibition Zone, MIC

Abstract

Invasive fungal infections caused by Candida albicans remain a significant clinical concern, particularly among immunocompromised individuals, while the increasing occurrence of resistance to azole antifungals has encouraged the exploration of plant-based antifungal agents. Carica papaya L. leaves contain bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, and saponins, which may contribute to antifungal activity; however, evidence regarding their activity against C. albicans remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro antifungal activity of ethanolic C. papaya leaf extract against C. albicans, determine the concentration producing the greatest inhibitory effect, and identify the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Papaya leaves were extracted by maceration using 90% ethanol. Extract concentrations of 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% were evaluated against C. albicans using the disc diffusion method to determine inhibition zones and a microdilution method to determine the visual MIC. Fluconazole and distilled water were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. All treatments were tested in triplicate, and the data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and the Kruskal–Wallis test, as appropriate. The extract demonstrated concentration-dependent antifungal activity, with the 100% concentration producing the largest inhibition zone among the extract treatments. The MIC was observed at a concentration of 25%. Statistical analysis indicated significant differences in antifungal activity among the tested concentrations (p < 0.05). Fluconazole produced greater inhibition than all extract concentrations, whereas the negative control showed no detectable inhibition. These findings demonstrate that ethanolic C. papaya leaf extract exhibits in vitro antifungal activity against C. albicans, with activity increasing with extract concentration. The extract may therefore serve as a potential source of plant-derived antifungal compounds, although further studies are required to characterize its active constituents and evaluate its efficacy under in vivo conditions.