The antibiofilm potential of Clidemia hirta against Candida albicans: preliminary study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to screen the activity of ethanol extract of Clidemia hirta fruits and leaves against 24 h old Candida albicans biofilm by measuring cell viability with 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol- 2-yl)- 2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and planktonic cells of C. albicans using the broth microdilution method. RESULTS: The ethanol extract of C. hirta fruits inhibited (50%) the C. albicans biofilm at a concentration fourfold higher than those required to inhibit planktonic cells (31.25 µg/mL vs. 7.8 µg/mL). This finding is supported by the morphological changes of C. albicans biofilm under scanning electron microscopy (SEM) visualization. A total of 55 compounds were detected using UHPLC coupled with Thermo Scientific™ Q Exactive™ High-Resolution Mass Spectrometer (HRMS). The top three compounds of the ethanol extract: dodecyl sulfate, bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, and erucamide) might be responsible compounds for the antibiofilm activity of ethanol extract of C. hirta.