Antifungal effect of Cuminum cyminum extract on candida albicans ATCC 10231 (experimental laboratory)

Candida albicans causes persistent endodontic infections; however, current antifungal materials for C. albicans infection have some limitations. Because Cuminum cyminum (cumin) has antifungal properties, its efficacy against C. albicans ATCC 10231 was investigated using Sabouraud Dextrose Broth (SDB). Steam distillation technique was used to obtain 5 different concentrations of cumin extract (0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, and 1.6 μL/mL). To evaluate the antifungal effect of cumin extract, the turbidity of C. albicans was assessed with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) reader. The cumin extract concentration that resulted in the lowest turbidity value of C. albicans ATCC 10231 was 0.4 μL/mL, which was significantly different from those produced by concentrations 0.1, 0.2 μL/mL, and the control. The concentration that resulted in the lowest turbidity of the biofilm was 0.1 μL/mL; however, this finding was not significantly different from biofilm turbidity values of other groups. Turbidity was lower for the planktonic form than for the biofilm which was significantly different from those produced by concentrations 0.4, 0.8, and 1.6 μL/mL. In conclusion cumin extract has an antifungal effect on both planktonic and biofilm forms of C. albicans ATCC 10231. Furthermore, it is more effective against planktonic than biofilm form.