PENGARUH PEMBERIAN EKSTRAK DAUN KETAPANG (Terminalia catappa) DAN KETOKONAZOL 2% TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN Candida albicans SECARA IN VITRO PADA KANDIDIASIS VULVOVAGINALIS

Abstract

Background: Tropical almond leaf is one natural ingredient that has anti-fungal activity because of its saponin content. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of in vitro tropical almond (Terminalia catappa) leaves extract and ketoconazole 2% against the growth of Candida albicans in vulvovaginal candidiasis. Method: This study was an experimental research whose samples were collected from vaginal swab of vulvovaginal candidiasis patients in Sunan Kuning, Semarang. Thirty samples of Candida albicans with germ tube test (+) result were each cultivated in two media: Ketoconazole 2% contained Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) and 100% Terminalia catappa extract (TCE) contained SDA which are incubated in 37°C for 24-48 hours. Data is obtained from observing the growth of C. albicans colonies in both media. Result: C. albicans colonies was grew only in one over 30 media with TCE. The conditions of chi-square test were not met, thus fisher-exact test was used and the result was p=1,00 (not significant). Conclusion: The effectiveness of TCE is similar to 2% ketoconazole in inhibiting the growth of in vitro Candida albicans from vulvovaginal candidiasis patients. This study still needs further research (in vivo). Keywords: Vulvovaginal candidiasis, TCE, saponin