Aktivitas Antifungi Ekstrak Daun Salam (Syzygium polyanthum) terhadap Penurunan Jumlah Koloni Candida albicans pada Tikus Model Kandidiasis Oral

Abstract

The high incidence of oral candidiasis due to Candida albicans infection poses a serious problem, especially in immunocompromised patients with a high risk of mortality. The limited availability of antifungal drugs in the market, compared to antibacterial drugs, adds complexity to this issue. Fungal resistance is also rising, causing fungi to adapt to the environment and leading to toxicity and serious drug interactions. Facing these challenges, exploring antifungal agents from natural sources becomes crucial. Indonesian bay leaves (Syzygium polyanthum) emerge as potential candidates, containing secondary metabolites such as terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, and tannins with antifungal activity. This research aims to evaluate the efficacy of bay leaf extract as an alternative treatment for chronic oral candidiasis. Testing was conducted on a mouse model of oral candidiasis representing individuals with compromised immune systems, treated with bay leaf extract at doses of 250 mg/kgBW and 500 mg/kgBW, with fluconazole as a positive control, and 0.5% Na CMC as a negative control. The research results indicate an increased number of coloni-forming units (CFU) of C. albicans in rats receiving treatment compared to the negative control group. The analysis suggests that the flavonoids in bay leaf extract have immunosuppressive properties on the mouse immune system, increasing susceptibility to C. albicans infection. However, after ten days of therapy, bay leaf extract did not show a significantly reduce C. albicans infection in the oral candidiasis mouse model. This study highlights the need for further research to understand the mechanisms and potential side effects of using bay leaves as an therapeutic agent.