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.