Antifungal capacity of lactic acid bacteria isolated from salad vegetables

Abstract

This study explores the use of lactic acid bacteria from fresh salad vegetables to inhibit fungal growth. The antifungal assay was done using the agar well diffusion method as reported by Schillinger and Lucke (1989). The largest zone of inhibition (25mm) was recorded by the antagonistic activity of the isolate identified to Lactobacillus plantarum against Candida albicans ATCC 90029. No activity was recorded against Candida parapsilosis ATCC 22019, C. valida UCH 1508, C. pseudotropicalis UCH1408, C. tropicalis UCH 1308 and Trichophyton interdigitalis UCH1708. The cell free supernatant (CFS) of the isolate described to be Lactobacillus brevis was exceptional as it was the only CFS that inhibited the growth of Epidermophyton floccosum UCH 1908. The results show that LAB isolated from salad vegetables can inhibit some fungi pathogens by developing zones around agar well that contain LAB metabolites and can probably be a feasible option for the chemotherapy of fungal infections given the drug resistance exhibited to antifungal agents currently in use.