Antifungal activity of leaf extract of Crassocephalum repidiodes on selected dermatophytes and Candida albicans

Abstract

Effect of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the leaf of Crassocephalum crepidiodes on some dermatophytes and Candida albicans was investigated using disc diffusion agar technique. The two extracts exhibited antifungal activity at 10mg/ml concentration against Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Microsporium audouinii, but not against Candida albicans. There was significant difference (p<0.05) in fungicidal activity between the ethanolic and aqueous extracts, with ethanolic extract showing higher activity. The susceptibility profile of the dermatophytes tested was T. mentagrophytes. > T. rubrum > M. audouinii. The phytochemical studies of the extracts revealed that the aqueous extract lacked terpenes and anthraquinone while terpenes were absent in ethanolic extract.


KEY WORDS: Antifungal, Dermatophytes, Extract, Susceptibility.


Global Jnl Pure and Applied Sciences Vol.10(4) 2004: 497-500