Published Paper Details:

Crossandra infundibuliformis, a firecracker flower native to southern India and Sri Lanka, is often used as an ornamental plant for its medicinal properties. Traditional medicine often involves various remedies using different parts of a plant, with ethnomedicine playing a role in drug discovery. Infectious diseases remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among humans, especially in developing countries. In recent years, resistance to antibiotics by microbes has increased, forcing scientists to search for new antimicrobial substances. Plant- based antimicrobials represent a vast untapped source of medicines. Over the last few decades, the incidence of opportunistic infections in patients treated with immunosuppressive drugs or intensive chemotherapy has increased at an alarming rate. Higher plants produce diverse chemical compounds with different biological activities, which have an important ecological role. Plant extracts have been used as alternative sources for treating fungal infections, such as Candida albicans, which are responsible for 80-90% of infections in dermatology. The phytochemical test of Crossandra infundibuliformis leaf extract revealed its antibacterial, antifungal, and anticandidal activity. By testing the inhibitory level against Candida albicans species, a topical substance could be developed against these infections. Antifungal creams, liquids, or sprays have shown effective antifungal activity in the past few years. Herbal extracts and essential oils have shown effective antifungal activity, and nanohydrogels can be applied to infected areas to reduce fungal infections. Skin acts as a protective barrier against external agents, sunburn, and body temperature, but pathogens can cause skin diseases or infections. Fungal infections are more severe because they occur on the third layer of the skin, leading to subcutaneous infections. In this study, the extract from Crossandra infundibuliformis will be collected and formulated as a cream against Candida albicans, potentially helping to treat skin infections caused by Candida albicans.