ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF NEEM OIL AND COCONUT OIL AND THEIR COMBINATION EFFECT AGAINST CANDIDA ALBICANS

• Main Author: Sagaran, Thivya
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/44967
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Diaper rash appears on the skin under a diaper. It can be seen in babies as well as adults who are bed ridden. Diaper rash is caused by infection of Candida sp. mainly Candida albicans. The rash of a candidal infection usually has a bright, beefy red appearance. The present study was conducted to investigate antifungal activity of neem oil and coconut oil and their combination against Candida albicans. The antifungal activity of neem oil and coconut oil were investigated against Candida albicans was tested through disc diffusion method to determine zone of inhibition while Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) by using microdilution well method. The interaction between combination of neem oil and coconut oil by using checkerboards method to determine Fraction Inhibitory Concentration Index (FICI). The diameter of zone of inhibition for neem oil 100% and coconut oil 100% against Candida albicans was 17 ± 0.2 mm and 11 ± 0.1 mm respectively. The MIC of neem oil against Candida albicans was 1.56% v/v. The MIC of coconut Oil against Candida albicans was 3.125% v/v. MFC of neem oil against Candida albicans was 3.125% v/v, whereas MFC for coconut oil against Candida albicans was 6.25% v/v. The combination of neem oil and coconut oil against Candida albicans, showed synergistic activity with the FICI value 0.6242. The neem oil and coconut oil have potential against Candida albicans, hence they can be developed as topical anti-fungal preparations.