Antimicrobial Effect of Garlic Extract on Candida Albicans Isolated from the Labia Majoras

Student: Oluwakemisola Busayo Ogundipe (Project, 2025)
Department of Microbiology
Lens Polytechnic, offa, Kwara State.

Abstract

This study investigates the antimicrobial effect of garlic (Allium sativum) extract on Candida albicans strains isolated from the labia majora of female patients presenting with candidiasis symptoms. Candida albicans is a common fungal pathogen associated with vulvovaginal candidiasis, which is often recurrent and resistant to conventional antifungal agents. Garlic, known for its bioactive compound allicin, exhibits promising antimicrobial properties. Clinical isolates of C. albicans were subjected to ethanolic and aqueous garlic extracts using agar well diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays. Results demonstrated a significant zone of inhibition with the ethanolic extract compared to the aqueous extract, with activity comparable to standard antifungal agents like fluconazole. This study supports the potential of garlic extract as an alternative or complementary antifungal treatment, especially in the era of increasing drug resistance.

Keywords
antimicrobial effect garlic extract candida albicans isolated labia majoras
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