Date of Publication

8-2025

Document Type

Bachelor's Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Biology major in Medical Biology

Subject Categories

Biology

College

College of Science

Department/Unit

Biology

Thesis Advisor

James Christopher C. Chua

Defense Panel Chair

Leo Agustin F. Barcelo

Defense Panel Member

Nyzar Mabeth O. Odchimar
Shad Natthew S. Arce

Abstract (English)

Candida tropicalis is a major pathogen among immunocompromised patients and in tropical regions such as the Philippines and has been increasingly detected in antifungal-resistant cases, posing significant challenges for public health. Ehretia microphylla has been identified as a potent medicinal plant in the Philippines shown to have medically beneficial compounds such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, benzoquinones, cyanogenic glycosides and fatty acids. This study aimed to determine whether E. microphylla crude leaf extract exhibits antifungal properties specifically against Candida tropicalis through identification of its minimum inhibitory concentration. E. microphylla leaves were shade and oven-dried, ground, and subjected to 72-hour maceration in 80% ethanol to obtain crude extracts, while C. tropicalis was cultured on Potato Dextrose Agar and standardized using a 0.5 McFarland solution. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) testing was conducted using the CLSI-recommended broth microdilution method in 96-well plates with serial two-fold dilutions of both fluconazole and plant extract to determine the lowest concentration capable of inhibiting fungal growth by 50% or more. The ethanol crude extract of E. microphylla showed no inhibitory effect against C. tropicalis in the broth microdilution assay, indicating a lack of antifungal activity under the study’s experimental conditions. The ethanol crude extract of E. microphylla exhibited no significant antifungal activity against C. tropicalis, this suggests limited efficacy under current extraction and testing conditions, highlighting the need for further research using alternative solvents, higher concentrations, and broader antifungal assays to better assess its therapeutic potential.

Keywords: Ehretia microphylla, Candida tropicalis, minimum inhibitory concentration, antifungal, ethanol extract

Abstract Format

html

Language

English

Format

Electronic

Keywords

Candida tropicalis; Medicinal plants--Philippines

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Embargo Period

8-17-2025

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