<![CDATA[As an opportunistic fungal pathogen, Candida albicans remains a leading cause of a wide range of human infections. rise in clinical resistance to conventional synthetic antifungal agents has prompted the search for novel therapeutic compounds derived from medicinal plants. Among these botanical candidates, Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn. is known to contain bioactive secondary metabolites with documented antimicrobial properties. This study aimed to characterize the phytochemical composition of the C. pentandra ethanolic leaf extract and assess its antifungal activity against C. albicans. Active constituents were isolated using ethanolic maceration, and comprehensive phytochemical screening was conducted to identify the predominant classes of secondary metabolites. The extract's antifungal activity was evaluated using the agar-well diffusion method at concentrations of 400, 600, and 800 ppm. Nystatin (100 ppm) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) served as the positive and negative controls, respectively. Inhibition-zone diameters were statistically analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Screening confirmed the presence of flavonoids, phenolics, alkaloids, and terpenoids in the extract. The ethanolic leaf extract of Ceiba pentandra exhibited moderate antifungal activity against Candida albicans. Although the inhibition-zone diameter increased from 400 to 800 ppm, the differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). These findings indicate antifungal activity within the tested concentration range and support further investigation across a broader concentration range and using more specific bioassays]]>
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