Nature’s Pharmacy: Plant-Based Antifungal Agents and Their Therapeutic Potential

Year : 2026 | Volume : 03 | Issue : 01 | Page : 1 7
    By

    Ashish Yadav,

  • Himanshu Singh,

  • Rajkamal,

  • Nitish Kumar,

  • Raveena Rani,

  1. Student, Department Of Pharmacy, Dasmesh College Of Pharmacy, Faridkot, Punjab, India
  2. Student, Department Of Pharmacy, Dasmesh College Of Pharmacy, Faridkot, Punjab, India
  3. Student, Department Of Pharmacy, Dasmesh College Of Pharmacy, Faridkot, Punjab, India
  4. Student, Department Of Pharmacy, Dasmesh College Of Pharmacy, Faridkot, Punjab, India
  5. Assistant Professor, Department Of Pharmacy, Dasmesh College Of Pharmacy, Faridkot, Punjab, India

Abstract

Antifungal resistance has increased dramatically over the last 10 years, causing serious problems for healthcare because of higher morbidity and death. The urgent need for new treatments is highlighted by the scarcity of effective antifungal medications, their toxicity, and the rise of resistant strains. Since many plants have bioactive secondary metabolites with strong antifungal qualities, including alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolics, and saponins, ethnobotanical sources offer a viable path. Plants with notable antifungal action, such as Bridelia retusa, Hypoestes serpens, and Piper crassinervium, have been used in traditional medicine. These phytochemicals work by causing oxidative stress, blocking ergosterol synthesis, and rupturing fungal membranes. Recent developments in nanotechnology have improved the clinical potential of plant-derived chemicals by increasing their stability, bioavailability, and targeted delivery. Nevertheless, issues with bioavailability, standardization, and regulatory approval still exist. Finding safe, efficient, and long-lasting antifungal medicines to counteract growing resistance may be made easier by combining ethnobotanical knowledge with contemporary scientific study.

Keywords: Antifungal resistance, Bridelia retusa, Flavonoids, Hypoestes serpens, nanotechnology, phytochemicals, Piper crassinervium, Plant-derived antifungal agents, Terpenoids

[This article belongs to International Journal of Tropical Medicines ]

How to cite this article:
Ashish Yadav, Himanshu Singh, Rajkamal, Nitish Kumar, Raveena Rani. Nature’s Pharmacy: Plant-Based Antifungal Agents and Their Therapeutic Potential. International Journal of Tropical Medicines. 2026; 03(01):1-7.
How to cite this URL:
Ashish Yadav, Himanshu Singh, Rajkamal, Nitish Kumar, Raveena Rani. Nature’s Pharmacy: Plant-Based Antifungal Agents and Their Therapeutic Potential. International Journal of Tropical Medicines. 2026; 03(01):1-7. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/ijtm/article=2026/view=240520


References

1. Beck-Sague C, Banerjee S, Jarvis WR. Epidemiology of nosocomial infections. J Public Health.
1993;83:1739–45.
2. Rex JH, Rinaldi MG, Pfaller MA. Resistance of Candida species to fluconazole. Antimicrob Agents
Chemother. 1995;39(1):1–8.
3. Jayasinghe L, Kumarihamy BMM, Jayarathna KHRN, Udishani NWMG, Bandara BMR, Hara N, et
al. Antifungal constituents of the stem bark of Bridelia retusa. Phytochemistry. 2003;62(4):637–41.
4. Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants Database. Available from: http://ayurvedicmedicinalplants.com. Accessed
May 2008.
5. Singh UV, Ahlawat SP, Bisht NS. Nursery techniques of local tree species-II. SFRI Information Bulletin
No. 11. Itanagar (India): State Forest Research Institute, Department of Environment and Forests,
Government of Arunachal Pradesh; 2003. Available from: http://sfri.nic.in/pdf_files/Nursery%
20Techniques%20of %20Local%20Tree%20Species%20II.pdf.
6. Borris RP. Natural products research: Perspectives from a major pharmaceutical company. J
Ethnopharmacol. 1996;51(1–3):29–38.
7. Lewis WH, Elvin-Lewis MP. Medicinal plants as sources of new therapeutics. Ann Mo Bot Gard.
1995;82:16–24.
8. Schultes RE. The kingdom of plants. In: Thomson WAR, editor. Medicines from the Earth. New
York: McGraw-Hill Book Company; 1978. p. 208.
9. Jung HJ, Sung WS, Yeo SH, Kim HS, Lee IS, Woo ER, et al. Antifungal activity of plant extracts.
Arch Pharm Res. 2006;29(9):746–51.
10. Cafarchia C, De Laurentis N, Milillo MA, Losacco V, Puccini V. Antifungal activity of selected
essential oils. Parassitologia. 2002;44:153–6.
11. Cowan MM. Plant products as antimicrobial agents. Clin Microbiol Rev. 1999;12(4):564–82.
12. Sunthitikawinsakul A, Kongkathip N, Kongkathip B, Phonnakhu S, Daly JW, Spande TF, et al.
Bioactive alkaloids from medicinal plants. Planta Med. 2003;69:155–9.
13. Reina M, Coloma AG, Díaz DD, Cabrera R, Mariño CG, Rodríguez ML, et al. Natural antifungal
agents from medicinal plants. Nat Prod Res. 2006;20(1):13–19.
14. Rahalison L, Benathan M, Monod M, Frenk E, Gupta MP, Solis PN, et al. Antifungal principles
from medicinal plants. Planta Med. 1995;61(4):360–2.
15. Chaurasia SC, Vyas KK. Antimicrobial studies of medicinal plants. J Res Indian Med Yoga
Homeopathy. 1977;24:45–50.
16. Shin S, Kang CA. Antifungal activity of plant essential oils. Lett Appl Microbiol. 2003;36(2):111–5.

17. Belhouchet Z, Sautour M, Miyamoto T, Lacaille-Dubois MA. Antifungal saponins from plants.
Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 2008;56:1324–8.
18. Escalante AM, Santecchia CB, Lopez SN, Gattuso MA, Gutierrez Ravelo A, Delle Monache A, et
al. Antifungal activity of plant extracts. J Ethnopharmacol. 2002;82:29–34.
19. Zhang JD, Cao YB, Xu Z, Sun HH, An MM, Yan L, et al. Antifungal properties of natural
compounds. Biol Pharm Bull. 2005;28:2211–5.
20. Wang F, Yang D, Ren S, Zhang H, Li R. Antifungal constituents from medicinal plants. J Chin
Med Mater. 1999;22:400–4.
21. Jayaweera DMA. Medicinal plants (indigenous and exotic) used in Ceylon. Part II. Colombo:
National Science Council of Sri Lanka; 1982.
22. Adhav M, Solanki CM, Patel B, Gharia A. Evaluation of isoflavanone as an antimicrobial agent
from leaves of Bridelia retusa. Orient J Chem. 2002;18:Abstract 228.
23. Mehare ID, Hatapakki BL. Antiinflammatory activity of bark of Bridelia retusa. Indian J Pharm
Sci. 2003;65:410–1.
24. Rasoamiaranjanahary L, Marston A, Guilet D, Schenk K, Randimbivololona F, Hostettmann K.
Antifungal diterpenes from Hypoestes serpens. Phytochemistry. 2003;62:333–7.
25. Rasoamiaranjanahary L, Guilet D, Marston A, Randimbivololona F, Hostettmann K. Antifungal
isopimaranes from Hypoestes serpens. Phytochemistry. 2003;64:543–8.
26. ZipcodeZoo Database. Hypoestes serpens plant information. Available from: http://zipcodezoo
.com/Plants/H/Hypoestes_serpens.asp. Accessed May 2008.
27. Andriamihaja B, Martin MT, Rasoanaivo P, Frappier F. A new diterpene from Hypoestes serpens.
J Nat Prod. 2001;64:217–8.
28. Yuncker TG. The Piperaceae of Brazil. Hoehnea. 1972;2:19–366.
29. ZipcodeZoo Database. Piper crassinervium information. Available from: http://zipcodezoo.com
/Plants/P/piper_crassinervium.asp. Accessed May 2008.
30. Mabberley DJ. The Plant-Book: A portable dictionary of the higher plants. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press; 1997.
31. Joly AB. Introdução à Taxonomia Vegetal. São Paulo: Editora Nacional; 1985.
32. Yamaguchi LF, Lago JHG, Tanizaki TM, Mascio PD, Kato MJ. Antioxidant activity of compounds
from Piper crassinervium. Phytochemistry. 2006;67:1838–43.
33. Vallabhaneni S, Cleveland AA, Farley MM, et al. Epidemiology of echinocandin nonsusceptible
Candida glabrata bloodstream infections. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2015;2(4):ofv163.
34. Verweij PE, Chowdhary A, Melchers WJ, Meis JF. Azole resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus. Clin
Infect Dis. 2016;62(3):362–8.
35. Rivero-Menendez O, Alastruey-Izquierdo A, Mellado E, Cuenca-Estrella M. Triazole resistance in
Aspergillus species. J Fungi. 2016;2(3):21.
36. Oberoi JK, Wattal C, Goel N, Raveendran R, Datta S, Prasad K. Non-albicans Candida species in
bloodstream infections. Indian J Med Res. 2012;136(6):997–1003.
37. Nigussie D, Davey G, Tufa TB, Brewster M, Legesse BA, Fekadu A, et al. Antibacterial and antifungal
activities of Ethiopian medicinal plants: A systematic review. Front Pharmacol. 2021;12:633921.

38. Ko HS, Taguchi H, Takizawa K, Fukushima K, Kim HS. Enzymatic mechanisms in zygomycosis-
causing Mucorales. Korean J Med Mycol. 2007;12(1):9–15.

39. Chukwuebuka EO, Chukwuma OC, Obaje EG, Agbo UM, Okoye NC. Medicinal plants in
antifungal drug discovery. J Med Imaging Infect. 2024;12(3):163.
40. Zia Q, Khan AA, Zubair S, Owais M. Nanoformulated phytochemicals for antifungal therapy. J
Neonatal Surg. 2025;14(2):2256.
41. Kumar A. Plant-derived antifungal agents: challenges in clinical trials. J Asian Nat Prod Res.
2025;27(8):1–10.

Regular Issue Subscription Review Article
Volume 03
Issue 01
Received 16/12/2025
Accepted 22/12/2025
Published 20/01/2026
Publication Time 35 Days
113

Login


My IP

PlumX Metrics