A Comprehensive Review of Plant Based Extracts for Preventing and Controlling Candida albicans

A common fungal pathogen Candida albicans can cause infections ranging from simple mucosal infections to serious systemic illnesses especially in people with weakened immune systems. Normally found in the human microbiome it turns harmful when the immune system is weakened. Its dimorphism—the capacity to transition between hyphal, and yeast forms—is a primary factor contributing to its pathogenicity, and is essential for both tissue penetration, and dissemination. This transition is crucial for tissue invasion, biofilm formation, and dissemination within the host. The infection mechanism involves adhesion to host cells, biofilm formation, epithelial invasion, and bloodstream dissemination. Furthermore, Candida albicans may use different carbon sources to adapt metabolically increasing its survival in a variety of host environments. Recent study revealed that Candida albicans possesses a parasexual cycle that allows for genetic diversity without requiring sexual reproduction. Plant-based remedies have become viable substitutes for conventional pharmaceutical antifungals with benefits including a decreased chance of drug resistance, fewer side effects, and cheaper expenses. Plant extracts offer several advantages, including a reduced likelihood of resistance development, fewer adverse side effects, and lower treatment costs. In particular, herbal medicines are emerging as safer, more sustainable options for managing C. albicans infections. As a result, plant based treatments are becoming increasingly recognized for their role in supporting antifungal therapy and enhancing overall treatment efficacy. In treating Candida albicans infections, herbal medicine is becoming more and more recognized as a useful tool due to its ability to offer safer, and more sustainable treatments. This pathogen can severely reduce crop yield and quality, posing a significant threat to global food security and agricultural economies, particularly in regions where these crops are staples. This review as an attempt to study their potential to address some of the limitations of current antifungal therapies, such as toxicity and resistance against C. albicans makes them an important area of research.