iarjmsIARJMSIARJMS2708-3594https://doi.org/10.47310/iarjms.2020.v01i01.012Evaluation of Anti-Candida Activity of Aqueous Extracts of Leaves, Root and Stem of Rhinacanthusnasutus Against Candida Albicansin Vitro StudyJesintha.JPaheerathan.VPiratheepkumar.RChanjugaa.USearch for naturally occurring compounds with Anti-candida activity has become quite intense due to the side effects of synthetic fungicides and the development of pathogens against such fungicides. Therefore, in recent years, considerable attention has been directed towards the identification of anti-fungal activity. Hence searching of varieties of plants for their antifungal activity against Candida albicans was considered worthwhile. The main goal of this research was to assess the anti-candida activity of the plant Rhinacanthusnasutus (L) Kurz against the Candida albicans. For this study fresh and dry plant materials (leaves, root and stem) were used at different concentration (100%, 50% & 25%) and different time period (12h, 24h & 48h) using hot and cold extracts to test effectiveness. Canidaalbicans sample were collected from university of Colombo and Sabouroud Dextrose Agar media were used determine the anti-candida activity and the antifungal activities were assessed by the presence or absence of inhibition zones in disc diffusion method.Among the different plant extracts, the results showed fresh leaves are more effective than root and stem; the zone of inhibition against the Candida albicans for leaves, root and stem are 14.14±0.12mm, 12.65±0.28mm and 11.81±0.69mm respectively. Fresh leaves extract (14.14±0.20mm) were more efficient than dry extract (13.36±1.80mm) and cold extract (14.14±0.20mm) were more effective than hot extract (13.36±1.80mm) and effective duration for the inhibition is 48h with 10mg/10ml of extract. Rhinacanthusnasutus (L) Kurzhas better effective anti-candida activity than the positive control Fluconazole (10mg/10mL) (14.14±0.20>11.33±0.47). The findings suggest the usefulness of leaves, stem and root aqueous extracts of Rhinacanthusnasutus(L) Kurz against pathogenic fungal (Candida albicans) strains.