Antifungal screening of 61 folkloric medicinal plant extracts against dermatophytic fungi Trichophyton rubrum.

A series 305 extracts from 61 traditional medicinal plants (belonging to 33 different families) used in treating skin diseases in Hyderabad Karnataka region were subjected to antidermatophytic screening against Trichophyton rubrum (MTCC 1344). Pet ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol and aqueous extracts of each plant were tested for their antifungal activity using agar well diffusion method at sample concentration of 5 & 2.5 mg/ml. The results indicated that out of 61 plants, 18 exhibited very effective antidermatophytic activity in methanolic extracts, effective activity observed in 13 plants in different extracts, whereas 26 plants showed moderate activity, 04 plants showed weak activity. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of 18 very effective plants were determined. On the basis of the results obtained, the crude extracts of Allium sativam Linn., Annona reticulata L., Annona squamosa L., Argemone mexicana L., Butea monosperma, Ceasalpinia bonducella, Citrus medica L., Corchorus oleterius L., Emblica officinalis, Euphorbia tirucalli L., Ficus racemosa L., Gymnosporia montana, Lawsonia inermis L., Solanum nigrum L., Sterculia foetida L., Tribulus terrestris L., Vitex negundo L., and Zingiber officinale exhibited significant antidermatophytic activity (T. rubrum) and properties that support folkloric use in the treatment of skin diseases as broad-spectrum antimycotic agents. This probably explains the use of these plants by the indigenous people against dermatological infections.

In-vitro antidermatophytic and preliminary phytochemical studies of petroleum ether and Inter-polar methanolic leaf extracts of Thevetia nerrifolia.

Antidermatophytic activity (Agar well diffusion technique) of petroleum ether and 98% methanolic leaf extracts of Thevetia nerrifolia (Apocynaceae) was evaluated against mycotic fungi namely, Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton tonsurans, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum gypseum, dimorphic fungi such as, Candida albicans and pathogenic bacteria like, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Brevibacillus spp. The significant antidermatophytic activity was shown by 98% methanolic extract, which inhibited all the test fungi and bacteria with time and dose dependent activity. The 98% methanolic extract retarded the growth of all the organisms at 40 mg/ml up to three weeks and beyond. The MIC’s, MFC’s and MBC’s were determined against all the test strains. Preliminary Phytochemical tests were carried out using both the crude extracts. This study provides basis for the isolation and purification of antidermatophytic inter polar compounds from the leaves of T. nerrifolia.

Anti-dermatophytic activity of some traditionally used medicinal plants of North Karnataka Region.

To find the potentiality of the following medicinal plants for their anti dermatophytic property. Agar and broth dilution methods, Leaf extracts of Cassia occidentalis, Cassia tora, Lawsonia inermis, Xanthium strumarium and Caesalpinia bonducella with various solvents viz., methanol, alcohol, acetone, acetone, petroleum ether, chloroform and ethyl acetate were evaluated for antidermatophytic activity against human pathogenic fungi. In agar and broth dilution methods, all extracts showed antifungal activity even at minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFCs). The most biologically active extract was found to be ethyl acetate leaf extract of C. bonducella, which inhibited all test fungi with time and dose dependent activity. This plant extract retarded the growth of all the organisms at 10000 μg/ml up to 30 days and beyond. It is further suggested for detail investigation of active constituents of the plants used in the present.

Role of endosulfan in mediating stress responses in Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.

Present study revealed the importance of endosulfan in mediating stress responses in Sorghum bicolor L. Moench (variety JP-1-1). The seeds treated with different concentrations (0.2, 0.4 and 0.6%) of endosulfan showed a significant decrease in percent germination over control. As the concentration increased, the shoot length, root length and biomass decreased. The amount of chlorophyll-a and protein decreased gradually with the increase in endosulfan concentration, whereas phenol and proline contents increased from 1.08 to 1.57 mg g-1 and 0.18 to 0.98 mg g-1, respectively. Chlorophyll-b decreased in 0.2% (0.97 mg g-1) as compared to control and revealed a gradual increase in 0.4% (1.11 mg g-1) and 0.6 % (1.13 mg g-1). Endosulfan treatment suppressed the catalase and protease activity, but significantly increased the level of peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, SOD and amylase enzymes. Lower dose (0.2%) of endosulfan stimulated the activity of amylases.