Phytochemicals Screening and Antifungal Activity of Balanites aegyptiaca Seed and Callus Extract against Candida albicans

Balanites aegyptiaca is a medicinal plant that serves as a source of phytochemicals with antimicrobial effect. This work aimed at screening for phytochemical constituents and investigating the antifungal activity of B. aegyptiaca seed and callus extract against Candida albicans. Callus induction from B. aegyptiaca seed kernel explant was done on MS basal nutrient medium supplemented with 0.5 BAP + 1.0 2, 4-D + 1.0 NAA. Cultures were kept under a controlled temperature and light conditions for five weeks. Plant materials were extracted using solvent extraction. 50 ml of the solvents: methanol and n-hexane were mixed with five grams (5 g) each of the grounded plant materials (1:10) w/v. Determination of antimicrobial activity was done using disc diffusion assay. Diffusion discs of approximately 6 mm diameter were prepared from Whatman No. 1 filter paper, then sterilized and autoclaved before drying in an oven. 10 µl of 50 and 100 mg/ml concentration of each crude extracts was impregnated on separate sterile disc using sterile micropipette tips. The diameter of zone of inhibition at 100 and 50 mg/ml showed the methanolic extract of callus had the highest zone of inhibition with 17 ± 0.69 mm and 11 ± 0.94 mm. The lowest diameter of zone inhibition of callus extracts was recorded by n-hexane extract at 100 (15 ± 0.46 mm) and 50 mg/ml (09 ± 0.57 mm) respectively. Also, the MIC ranged between 6.25 and 12.50 mg/ml and MFC recorded value of 12.50 mg/ml. Seed methanolic extract had the highest zones of inhibition of 15 ± 0.34 mm and 10 ± 0.62 mm at 100 and 50 mg/ml respectively, while the lowest value (12 ± 0.51 mm and 09 ± 0.23) was recorded in n-hexane at 100 and 50 mg/ml. From the results, both the MIC and MFC of seed extracts ranged from 12.50 to 25.00 mg/ml. Callus extracts showed stronger antifungal activities compared to the seed extracts. Therefore, from the result, Callus extract from B. aegyptiaca can serve as a good source of therapeutic compounds for fungal related disease.