Abstract :Candida albicans is a commensal microorganism which lives in the oral, digestive and genitourinary
tracts. Use of tobacco products such cigarettes and chewing tobacco can cause a number of health
issues including oral cancer in humans. The yeast, C. albicans which is a normal flora in the mouth can
cause oral candidiasis in immunocompromised patients including patients suffering from cancer.
In this study, we have examined the effect of the tobacco extract on C. albicans morphogenesis.
We found that the cold water and cold methanol extracts of chewing tobacco, cigarette and beedi
tobacco can induce yeast to hyphal form transition of the human pathogen, C. albicans. Gas
chromatographic mass spectroscopy analysis of cold methanolic extract of tobacco indicated the
presence of various molecules including nicotine. This study indicates that tobacco is a good inducer
medium for inducing yeast to hyphal form transition that may enhance the pathogenicity of C.
albicans in humans.