Antifungal properties of medicinal plants in the treatment of oral and dental fungal infections: A review

Abstract

Ameerah Jumaan Ahmeed*, Omymah Ahmad Fallatah, Emtenan Mohammed Alharbi, Bashayr Abdullah Alabbas, Layla Sultan Al mahmoudi, Daniah Farooq Hefni, Yasmeen Hasan Albader and Mardhiyyah Abdullah Al Abbas

Oral and dental fungal infections, primarily caused by Candida albicans, pose a significant clinical challenge due to increasing antifungal resistance and adverse effects of conventional therapies. Medicinal plants offer an alternative through diverse bioactive compounds with potent antifungal mechanisms. This review analyzed peer-reviewed articles published between 2016 and 2025, sourced from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Studies included in vitro, in vivo, and clinical trials evaluating the efficacy and mechanisms of medicinal plant extracts against oral fungal pathogens. Key findings reveal that extracts from Curcuma longa, Azadirachta indica, Syzygium aromaticum, Rosmarinus officinalis, and Allium sativum exhibit significant antifungal activity. Mechanisms include inhibition of biofilms, hyphal suppression, and disruption of fungal cell membranes. Many herbal agents demonstrated efficacy comparable to nystatin and fluconazole, with lower cytotoxicity and potential for combinatory use.