ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF LIME TREE LEAF (CITRUS AURANTIFOLIA) EXTRACTS AGAINST CANDIDA ALBICANS, MUCOR SPECIES AND RHIZOPUS SPECIES
Abstract
This study aims to determine the antifungal activity of lime leaf (Citrus aurantifolia) extracts against Candida albicans, Mucor species, and Rhizopus species, with the specific objectives of preparing lime leaf extracts using ethanol and aqueous solvents, assessing the antifungal activities of lime leaf extracts against Candida albicans, Mucor species, and Rhizopus species, and determining the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) of lime leaf extracts against Candida albicans, Mucor species, and Rhizopus species. The increasing resistance to synthetic antifungal agents and their associated toxicity and environmental concerns have driven the exploration of natural alternatives, such as plant-derived extracts. Lime leaf extracts, prepared via cold maceration using ethanol and aqueous solvents, were evaluated for their antifungal activity using the disc diffusion method to measure inhibition zones and the broth microdilution method to determine MIC and MFC. Results showed that aqueous extracts outperformed ethanol extracts, exhibiting inhibition zones up to 27mm and MIC/MFC values of 25% and 50%, respectively, with notable efficacy against Candida albicans. The superior performance of aqueous extracts is attributed to higher retention of polar bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, limonene, and phenolic acids, which disrupt fungal cell membranes and inhibit key enzymes. These findings underscore lime leaf extracts’ potential as sustainable, eco-friendly antifungal agents for clinical and agricultural applications. Further research is recommended to optimize extraction methods, investigate synergistic effects with other antimicrobials, and conduct toxicological studies to ensure safety and scalability for industrial use.
Keywords: Citrus aurantifolia, lime leaf extracts, antifungal activity, Candida albicans, Mucor circinelloides, Rhizopus oryzae, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC.
Full-Text Access Notice
In accordance with the NERD Policy on promoting peer-reviewed publication, public access to the full text of a project, thesis or dissertation is restricted for three years, allowing the author and supervisors sufficient time to pursue peer-reviewed publication.
During this period, researchers with legitimate academic or research purposes may request authorisation directly from the author to enable NERD to release the indexed full texts of the work using the form below.