Abstract
Background Candida albicans is a common fungal pathogen responsible for oral infections, posing significant health challenges. Traditional antifungal treatments often come with side effects and resistance issues, highlighting the need for effective natural alternatives. O. tenuiflorum and Ocimum gratissimum are known for their medicinal properties, including antifungal activity. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the antifungal effectiveness of an O. tenuiflorum and O. gratissimum herbal formulation-based oral rinse against C. albicans. Methods Antifungal activity was measured using agar well diffusion, time-kill curve assays, and analyses of cytoplasmic and protein leakage. The herbal rinse was tested at concentrations of 25 µg/mL, 50 µg/mL, and 100 µg/mL, and compared to a commercial oral rinse. Results The herbal rinse demonstrated strong antifungal effects that increased with concentration. At 100 µg/mL, it produced a 13 mm zone of inhibition, outperforming the commercial rinse's 11 mm. The time-kill assay revealed that the 100 µg/mL concentration reduced fungal counts to 103 CFU/mL within 5 hours, on par with the commercial rinse. Cytoplasmic leakage analysis showed an optical density of 0.42 at 100 µg/mL, close to the commercial rinse's 0.45. Protein leakage analysis indicated an optical density of 0.52 at 100 µg/mL, slightly higher than the commercial rinse's 0.51. Conclusion The O. tenuiflorum and O. gratissimum herbal formulation-based oral rinse exhibit potent antifungal activity against C. albicans, rivaling and even surpassing commercial rinses at higher concentrations. This study underscores the potential of this natural oral rinse as a powerful alternative for managing oral fungal infections, meriting further research and clinical trials to confirm its long-term safety and efficacy.