ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF SYMPLOCOS RACEMOSA( LODHRA) AND CINNAMOMUM VERUM ( CINNAMON ) BARK FORMULATION MEDIATED ZINC OXIDE NANOPARTICLES AGAINST CANDIDA ALBICANS

Introduction: Zinc oxide nanoparticles have a role in cell apoptosis as they trigger excessive reactive oxygen species formation and release zinc ions. The aim of this research is to assess the anti-fungal activity of Symplocosracemosa (Lodhra) and Cinnamomum verum (Cinnamon ) bark formulation mediated zinc oxide nanoparticles against Candida albicans . Materials & Method: Candida albicans (C.albicans ) is used as a test pathogen by agar well diffusion assay. The prepared and sterilized medium was swabbed with test organisms and nanoparticles with different concentrations (25µL, 50 µL ,100 µL )were added to the wells and in the fourth well standard antibiotic fluconazole was loaded & the zones of inhibition was measured. Results & Discussion: The minimum inhibitory concentration of zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized from Lodhra and cinnamon extract was compared with a standard antibiotic fluconazole. It was observed that the optical density of the ZnO nanoparticles was higher at the 1st hour at different concentrations and decreased subsequently. Conclusion: It was proved that the effects of the standard antibiotic against C.albicans was relatively lower as compared to ZnO nanoparticles. Hence, Lodhra& cinnamon bark mediated ZnO nanoparticles can be used as a potent antifungal agent against C.albicans in the future.