BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Background: Candidiasis is the most common fungal infection. Nystatin is often used to treating of candidiasis that creates the problem of drug resistance and side effects. Study was performed to determine the antifungal properties of black and green tea extracts against Candida albicans.

METHODS: To do this basic study, at first methylene chloride and methanolic extracts of green and black tea were prepared. Disk diffusion method and measuring the diameter of inhibition zone was used to determine anti-fungal extracts against Candida albicans. The methanolic extract at doses of 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 mg and methylene chloride extracts with concentrations of 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1 mg per disk were used and the results compared in 24 and 48 hours.

FINDINGS: Methylene chloride extracts of both type of tea create antifungal activity more than methanol extracts. The maximum antifungal activity 24 hours by a concentration of 1 mg hard methylene chloride extract was obtained and in this concentration with formation of zone inhibition 30.57±4.4 and 34.25±2.7 mm, respectively, for the methylene chloride extract of green tea and black more antifungal effect compared to Nystatin (20±1.06 mm) was established (p<0.01).

CONCLUSION: The results have shown that green and black tea leaf extract can create antifungal activity effects against Candida albicans as dose -dependent manner and is more effective in the first 24 hours than the 48 hours