Screening Medicinal and Ornamental Plants for Antifungal Properties — 27a — Lexa Burtzlaff, Kaesha Davis

A prevalence in antifungal resistance has created a greater demand for a new class of antifungals, as there are limited pathways that focus on fungal inhibition. This is due to the similarities between fungi and other eukaryotic cells, as they are very alike in their cellular processes and genetic makeup. An interest in exploring plant secondary metabolites as a resource for the development of antifungal drugs has evolved. The purpose of this study was to extract ornamental and medicinal plants in various solvents and test against the fungal target Candida albicans, a fungus that leads to infections such as thrush and yeast infections. A disc diffusion assay was performed to determine which plant extracts could inhibit the fungi in different solvents compared to fluconazole and amphotericin B, our antifungal controls. After determining which plants could inhibit C. albicans, a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay was performed to determine the lowest concentration of inhibition. The results indicated that Coleus scutellarioides flowers had the greatest inhibition against C. albicans. There was zero activity found in polar solvents, indicating that future investigations should shift their focus to more nonpolar solvents.

Mount Marty College
Dr. Kathleen Gibson