In vivo Anticandidal Activity of Euphorbia prostrata

Background: Euphorbia prostrata, is an annual herbaceous plant reported to possess many biological activities. In Cameroon, it is traditionally used to treat various diseases among which fungal infections.

Aims: This study aimed at evaluating the safety and the therapeutic effectiveness of E. prostrata extract in an experimentally induced systemic candidiasis on rats.

Methods: The acute oral toxicity of the E. prostrata extract was determined using the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guideline 425. The in vitro antifungal activity was assessed by the broth micro-dilution method against four Candida strains. The in vivo activity was evaluated in rat model with disseminated candidiasis due to Candida albicans by estimating the fungal burden in the kidneys.The side effects associated with antifungal therapy were determined by the assessment of some serum biochemical parameters using commercial kits.

Results: The doses used during acute toxicity study, did not cause any mortality or significant behavioural changes, thus leading to a LD50 value greater than 5000 mg/kg. E. prostrata extract exhibited good anticandidal activity against the tested yeasts with a MIC value equal to 64 µg/mL, obtained against the tested C. albicans strain. Oral administration of E. prostrata extract at the doses 33.2, and 166 mg/kg of body weight (bw) to artificially infected rats, resulted in a complete recovery of the animals after 15 days of treatment with the number of colony forming units per milliliter of C. albicans cells in the kidney equal to zero.The evolution of the serum biochemical parameters during the treatment revealed that E. prostrata extract exhibited relative side effects on rats.

Conclusion: The present study demonstrates the therapeutic effectiveness of E. prostrata extract on an experimentally induced systemic candidiasis on rat as well as its relative safety, thus justifying its traditional use for the treatment of mycoses.