Anti-Candida albicans activity and brine shrimp lethality test of Hevea brasiliensis latex B-serum

K.M.A. Daruliza, K.L. Yang*, K.L. Lam, J.T. Priscilla, E. Sunderasan**, M.T. Ong

Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), University Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang (Malaysia)
*Centre for Drug Research (CDR), University Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang (Malaysia)
**Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia, Malaysian Rubber Board, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)

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• Pharmacology

Background and Objectives: Hevea brasiliensis extracts could potentially be employed as a relatively low cost resource for various anti-fungal activities due to the simplicity of the extract preparation and its abundance especially in the tropical region. Latex B-serum was reported to have anti-cancer property and its specificity in anti-fungal property has not been elucidated. The present study was conducted to determine the anti-fungal activity of Hevea latex B-serum against Candida (C.) albicans (a rounded cell fungus) and Aspergillus (A.) niger (a filamentous fungus).

Methods and Results: The results showed that the anti-fungal activity of latex B-serum was specific to C. albicans but not to A. niger. The MIC value of latex B-serum for C. albicans was found to be 2.5 mg/ml. The time-killing profile showed that the growth of C. albicans was inhibited and the inhibition was prolonged throughout the tested time period. Brine shrimp toxicity test showed an LC50 of 461.0 mg/ml with latex B-serum, indicating the non-toxicity of the serum.

Conclusion: Further purification and identification of the crude extract should point the way to bioactive compound(s) responsible for anti-Candida activity.

Corresponding Author: Ming Thong Ong, DSc; e-mail: omt@usm.my (also ong.mt1@gmail.com)

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