SCREENING OF POTASH COMPOUNDS FOR TREATMENT OF CUTANEOUS CANDIDIASIS USING ALBINO MICE MODEL

ABSTRACT

The antimicrobial effects of different potash compounds on Candida isolates were evaluated by in vitro and in vivo methods The potash compounds screened were potash alum, potassium carbonate and palm ash from Elaeis guineensis Fifty highvaginal swab samples were collected from patients suspected of having vulvovaginal candidiasis Thirtyfive out of the fifty samples were positive to Candida growth The Candida isolated include Candida albicans 50, Ctropicalis 34 and C glabrata 16 The in vitro antimicrobial effects of the potash compounds and their various combinations were evaluated using the wellinagar and Kirby Bauers methods The wellinagar method gave a better result than the KirbyBauers method Potash alum gave the highest inhibition zone diameter 48mm at 80 w/v concentration while potassium carbonate 36mm at 80 w/v concentration was the least The in vivo antimicrobial assay was done using four week old healthy albino mice weighing between 100grams and 120grams The animals were divided into four groups comprising: the normal mice, immunosuppressed mice, the positive control and the negative control groups The animals were immunosupressed intraperitoneally using 01mililitre cyclophosphamide 100mg/kg body weight without anesthesia They were inoculated cutaneously five days after immunosuppression with a loopful of the isolates equivalent to 1x108cfu/g and carefully observed for clinical signs and symptoms of cutaneous candidiasis The immunosuppressed group developed infection 7 days after the inoculation while the normal group developed infection 9 days after the inoculation The immunosuppressed and the normal groups were treated immediately after the manifestation of clinical signs and symptoms of cutaneous candidiasis This was done using different formulations of the potash compounds The positive control group was treated with topical nystatin and Vaseline gelly while the negative control group was left untreated The animals showed a gradual disappearance of the clinical signs and symptoms from the fourth day of treatment onwards The in vivo studies confirmed the results of the in vitro sensitivity test, thus showing that potash compounds could serve as better alternatives to our conventional antibiotics

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title pagei

Certificationii

Dedicationiii

Acknowledgementiv

Table of contentsv

List of Tablesvi

List of Figuresvii

Abstractviii

10 INTRODUCTION1

20 LITERATURE REVIEW9

21 Pathophysiology of Candida11

22 Epidemiology of Candidiasis14

23 Treatment of Candidiasis16

24 Chemistry of Potash Compounds22

30 MATERIALS AND METHODS28

40 RESULTS40

50 DISCUSSION75

60 CONCLUSION/RECOMMENDATION79

70 REFERENCES80

80 APPENDICES89

LIST OF TABLES

Table Title Page

1 Results of microscopic morphologies and germ tube test

2 Sugar fermentation test

3 Isolation frequency of the isolates from the HVS samples

4 Antimicrobial effects of the potash compounds on Candida albicans

5 Antimicrobial effects of the potash compounds on Candida tropicalis

6 Antimicrobial effects of the potash compounds on Candida glabrata

7 Antimicrobial effect of various combinations of potash compounds on Candida albicans using the wellinagar method

8 Antimicrobial effect of various combinations of potash compounds on Candida tropicalis using the wellinagar method

9 Antimicrobial effect of various combinations of potash compounds on Candida glabrata using the wellinagar method