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Abstract

Unedo, Ade K.A.J; 2021; THE EFFECTIVENESS TEST OF Citronella

(Cymbopogon citratus) EXTRACT ON THE GROWTH OF Candida albicans IN
VITRO. Final Project. Medical Education Study Program, Faculty of Medicine,
Universitas Brawijaya. Supervisor: (1) Prof. Dr. dr. Sanarto Santoso,
DTM&H,Sp.MK (2) dr. Nugrahanti Prasetyorini Sp.OG(K).
Candida albicans is an opportunistic pathogen and a commensal organism
that is easily found in humans. Candida albicans can be pathogenic in situations
where the host's resistance to infection is decreased locally or systemically. In
Indonesia, as a country with a tropical climate, Candida albicans infections are
common. Treatment of Candida albicans is increasingly difficult due to the high
rate of resistance. In addition, the side effects of antifungal drugs are of
increasing concern in the future. Antifungal innovations are needed that are easy
to find and abundant. Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is a native plant of
Indochina which has many benefits, one of which is antifungal activity. This study
uses a laboratory experimental research with a true experimental design. The
focus of the research was on the state of Candida albicans colonies after being
exposed by the extract of Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) in vitro through the
agar dilution method to determine the growth of colonies on each plate. The
treatment group in this study was divided into 2 groups, namely the Candida
albicans culture group with distilled water (negative control) and the Candida
albicans culture group with extract concentrations of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%,
and 30%. The results of statistical analysis obtained the value of the Kruskal
Wallis test of 0.000 (p <0.05). Data analysis was continued using the Mann
Whitney Test. The results of the analysis showed that the concentration of 0%
Lemongrass extract or negative control resulted in significantly different results
for all concentrations. Comparison between other groups showed significant
values except the concentration of 15% with 20% and 20% with 25%.
Spearman's significance test resulted in the number 0.000 with a correlation
coefficient of -0.941. These results indicate that increasing the concentration of
Lemongrass extract will significantly reduce the growth of Candida albicans
colonies. Thus, it can be concluded that the extract of Lemongrass (Cymbopogon
citratus) has an antifungal effect on Candida albicans colonies in vitro.

Keywords: Cymbopogon citratus, , resistency