Evaluation of Antifungal Properties of Moringa oleifera Seed Extract Against Candida Isolates from Diabetic Patients in Enugu State University Teaching Hospital

Candida infections in diabetic patients represent a significant clinical challenge due to impaired immune responses and the increasing prevalence of fluconazole-resistant strains. This study evaluated the antifungal activity of Moringa oleifera seed extracts against Candida species isolated from diabetic patients at Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH), South East Nigeria. Vaginal swabs, oral swabs, and skin scrapings from 60 diabetic patients with clinical candidosis were processed to isolate Candida species, which were identified using CHROMagar Candida and biochemical tests. Aqueous and methanolic M. oleifera seed extracts were prepared by maceration, and antifungal activity was assessed using the agar diffusion method and broth microdilution for MIC determination. Fluconazole served as the positive control. A total of 82 Candida isolates were recovered, with C. albicans (52%), C. tropicalis (22%), and C. glabrata (18%) as the major species. The methanolic extract exhibited significant antifungal activity, with MIC values ranging from 3.13 to 12.5 mg/mL. C. glabrata isolates, which showed reduced fluconazole susceptibility, remained susceptible to M. oleifera extracts. Phytochemical screening identified isothiocyanates, glucosinolates, and flavonoids as putative active constituents. These findings support the potential of M. oleifera as a complementary antifungal agent and recommend further fractionation and in vivo studies. Keywords: Moringa oleifera, antifungal activity, Candida species, diabetes, plant extract.