# Phytochemical Analysis and Antifungal Activity of Aloe vera Extract Against Candida albicans

## TL;DR

This study evaluates Aloe vera from the Palestinian region for its antifungal properties against Candida albicans, finding whole leaf extracts more effective than gel.

## Contribution

The study provides localized phytochemical and antifungal data for Palestinian-grown Aloe vera, emphasizing its potential in alternative medicine.

## Key findings

- Whole leaf extract showed 35.17% antifungal efficiency, significantly higher than gel extract (8.57%).
- Whole leaf extract had higher total phenol (1.278%) and flavonoid (0.238%) content than gel extract.
- Phenolic compounds in Aloe vera extracts show potential for treating Candida albicans infections.

## Abstract

Alternative medicine is pursued as a preference to conventional medicine due to growing resistance to antimicrobial medications. The primary purpose of this study is to assess the antifungal activity and phytochemical content of Aloe vera growing in the Palestinian region, with a particular emphasis on the bioactive potentials of this plant against Candida albicans. Extracts from whole leaves and gel were evaluated against C. albicans using MIC and broth microdilution methods. Findings revealed that the whole leaf extract demonstrated superior antifungal activity compared to the gel, with maximum efficiencies of 35.17% and 8.57%, respectively. Notably, the MIC50 values for whole leaf and gel extracts were approximately 75.42 mg/mL and 184.93 mg/mL, respectively. Phytochemical analysis exhibited considerable levels of bioactive proteins, sugars, and starch in whole leaf extracts, regardless of the extraction method, whereas gel extracts displayed lower quantities of these substances. The total phenol content was 1.278% in the entire leaf extract and 1.015% in the gel, while total flavonoid content was measured at 0.238% in the whole leaf extract compared to 0.1875% in the gel. The presence of phenols effective against C. albicans indicates its potential utility in alternative medicine for treating diseases caused by this fungus. Our study demonstrated that A. vera grown in the Palestinian region has significant levels of bioactive content, highlighting the importance of investigating distinct parts of A. vera for their antifungal therapeutic attributes. While many of these plants have been studied globally, a localized inquiry is necessary due to their unique qualities and potential differences within the Palestinian context. Climate, soil, and ecological conditions can influence a plant’s extract chemical composition and potency, leading to various therapeutic or pharmacological effects.