Date of Completion

2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy

Keywords

Ampalaya spray dried extract, brine shrimp lethality assay, Candida albicans, column chromatography, microbroth dilution assay, Momordica charantia, mouthwash, oral candidiasis, physical and chemical compatibility, toxicity

Abstract

Candidiasis is a prevalent fungal infection in the Philippines, and the increasing prevalence of oral diseases, resistance to antifungals, and high costs have led to the search for alternative, safe, effective, and affordable therapeutic options derived from plants. Momordica charantia (ampalaya), a plant found in many tropical and subtropical regions, has been found to have broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, making it a potential source of oral antimicrobial agents for treating diseases associated with C. albicans. This study aimed to assess the antifungal activity of different fractions of ampalaya crude ethanolic extract against C. albicans, evaluate their toxicity and compatibility with various excipients for mouthwash formulation. The study utilized column chromatography to fractionate the Ampalaya spray-dried ethanolic extract (SDE) and subjected the fractions to antifungal activity and toxicity assays through microbroth dilution method and brine shrimp lethality assay, respectively. The fraction with the highest antifungal activity and lowest toxicity was further subjected to phytochemical screening and drug-excipient compatibility testing.

Two fractions were obtained from the defatted Ampalaya SDE through column chromatography using the solvent system of Ethyl acetate:Butanol:Glacial acetic acid (3.75:5.75:0.5). The two fractions both displayed antifungal activity at a minimum inhibitory concentration of 50 mg/L but were also found to exhibit toxicity at the same concentration (i.e., 9.77 mg/L LC50 for Fraction 1 and 31.62 mg/L LC50 for Fraction 2). Of the 2, Fraction 2 had greater antifungal activity and less potent LC50 and was found to contain flavonoids after undergoing phytochemical screening. The drugexcipient compatibility of Fraction 2 was explored with the fraction being compatible with all tested excipients. The researchers note that the compatibility tests were conducted for only one week and did not include chemical compatibility testing.

This study was able to fill-in the knowledge gap on potential solvent systems for fractionation of M. charantia, evaluated the toxicity and antifungal activity of the resulting fractions, and characterized their phytochemical properties. Additionally, the study identified excipients that are compatible with these fractions, which could be used in the development of a mouthwash formulation. While this study provides valuable insights into the fractionation of M. charantia, further investigations are recommended to explore additional solvent mixtures that could enable greater separation of column bands and longer duration of compatibility tests.

First Advisor

Patrick James C. Encarnacion

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