Résumé
Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the least concentrations of 5 fractions of Pouzolzia indica methanolic extract which can be lethal to the cyst form of the Acanthamoeba spp. Methods: Acanthamoeba spp. was isolated from a keratitis patient and was cultured using nonnutrient agar plates enriched with heat-killed E.coli for seven days at room temperature for the production of mature cysts. The cysts were harvested, washed in normal saline solution and adjusted to the final concentration of 104 cysts/ml. They were mixed with several dilutions of each fraction of Pouzolzia indica methanolic extract. After incubation for 1 hour, they were washed and centrifuged to remove the herbal extract supernatants. The cysts were recultured in the same medium for 7 days to confirm that they were all dead. Results: Pouzolzia indica methanolic extract fraction No. 1 which was eluted by water could not kill the cyst, while the crude extract (Fraction C) could at the concentration of 1:2. The fraction No.2 which was eluted by water: methanol had the minimal cysticidal concentration of 1:4, fraction No.3 which was eluted by methanol had the minimal cysticidal concentration of 1:8 and the fraction No.4 which was eluted by ethyl acetone had the minimal cysticidal concentration of 1:4. Concluison: Our results demonstrated that the Pouzolzia indica methanolic extract of several fractions can be cysticidal to an Acanthamoeba cyst, and this can modified to be a better disinfecting solution for contact lens cases.