In vitro antifungal activity of Dorstenia mannii leaf extracts (Moraceae)

The leaves of Dorstenia mannii are used in traditional medicine in Cameroon and other African countries for the treatment of infectious diseases like malaria, skin rashes and stomach disorders. To substantiate this folkloric claim, the crude methanol extract and fractions from the leaves of D. mannii were investigated for their antifungal activity. The crude methanol extract was prepared from powdered dried leaves of the D. mannii. A portion was subjected to flash liquid chromatography on silica gel to afford test fractions. All test samples were screened for major groups of phytochemicals.Test samples and nystatin (reference) were evaluated for antifungal activity on ten yeasts using agar disc diffusion and broth microdilution methods. The qualitative analysis of crude methanol extract and fractions of D. mannii leaves revealed the presence of flavonoids, phenols, steroids and cardiac glycosides. In agar disc diffusion assay, seven of the ten pathogenic fungal strains were sensitive to the crude methanol extract (7/10), n-hexane ethyl-acetate (Hex-EA) (75%) (8/10) and ethyl-acetate (100%) (8/10). The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for the test samples varied from 80 to 1280 μg/ml. The crude extract and ethyl-acetate (100%) were the most active plant samples with both fungistatic and fungicidal effects (MIC/MFC values from 80 to 640 μg/ml) though not as the reference drug. Candida tropicalis was the least sensitive to the test samples. Some fractions exerted no fungicidal actions on Cryptococcus neoformans, Candida lusitaniae and Candida tropicalis. The present work shows that the crude methanol extract and fractions (n-hexane, ethyl acetate and residue) from the leaves of D. mannii possess growth inhibitory effect on pathogenic yeast. The active ingredients of this plant could be an addition to the antifungal arsenal to opportunistic fungal yeast pathogens.Keywords: Antifungal activity, Dorstenia mannii, yeasts, opportunistic candidiasi

In vitro antifungal activity of Dorstenia mannii leaf extracts (Moraceae)

The leaves of Dorstenia mannii are used in traditional medicine in Cameroon and other African countries for the treatment of infectious diseases like malaria, skin rashes and stomach disorders. To substantiate this folkloric claim, the crude methanol extract and fractions from the leaves of D. mannii were investigated for their antifungal activity. The crude methanol extract was prepared from powdered dried leaves of the D. mannii. A portion was subjected to flash liquid chromatography on silica gel to afford test fractions. All test samples were screened for major groups of phytochemicals.Test samples and nystatin (reference) were evaluated for antifungal activity on ten yeasts using agar disc diffusion and broth microdilution methods. The qualitative analysis of crude methanol extract and fractions of D. mannii leaves revealed the presence of flavonoids, phenols, steroids and cardiac glycosides. In agar disc diffusion assay, seven of the ten pathogenic fungal strains were sensitive to the crude methanol extract (7/10), n-hexane ethyl-acetate (Hex-EA) (75%) (8/10) and ethyl-acetate (100%) (8/10). The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for the test samples varied from 80 to 1280 μg/ml. The crude extract and ethyl-acetate (100%) were the most active plant samples with both fungistatic and fungicidal effects (MIC/MFC values from 80 to 640 μg/ml) though not as the reference drug. Candida tropicalis was the least sensitive to the test samples. Some fractions exerted no fungicidal actions on Cryptococcus neoformans, Candida lusitaniae and Candida tropicalis. The present work shows that the crude methanol extract and fractions (n-hexane, ethyl acetate and residue) from the leaves of D. mannii possess growth inhibitory effect on pathogenic yeast. The active ingredients of this plant could be an addition to the antifungal arsenal to opportunistic fungal yeast pathogens.Key words: Antifungal activity, Dorstenia mannii, yeasts, opportunistic candidiasis

In vitro Antidermatophytic Activity of Diospyros crassiflora Hiern (Ebenaceae)

Background: Dermatophytoses constitute an important public health problem as yet unresolved. In most African countries, traditional phytomedicine is used to make faces at this disease. Plants from the genus Diospyros are known for their various biological activities, but Diospyros crassiflora has not been previously performed for antidermatophytic activity. Objectives: To study the In vitro antidermatophytic activity of extract from the stem bark of Diospyros crassiflora and to isolate the active compound responsible for the activity observed. Methods: Clinical isolates of dermatophytes (Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton soudanense, Microsporum canis, Microsporum langeronii, Microsporum gypseum) were tested in vitro by cup-plate agar diffusion and broth macrodilution methods. Results The growth of all dermatophytes tested was inhibited by the extract and plumbagin. The diameter of inhibition zones varied from 9-13 mm and from 10-18 mm for the extract and plumbagin respectively. MIC's (Minimal inhibitory concentration) values ranged from 6.25-12.5 mg/ml for the extract and 3.12-6.25 µg/ml for plumbagin. Extract showed fungicidal effect at a concentration of 12.5 mg/ml on T. rubrum. Plumbagin was fungicidal on all dermatophytes tested at 12.5 µg/ml excepted T. rubrum (6.25 µg/ml). Conclusion: Extract from the stem bark of Diospyros crassiflora posses tremendous antidermatophytic activity, the active principle responsible for the activity is a naphtoquinone plumbagin. Compared to ketoconazole used as standard antifungal the compound isolate could be considered as a promising antidermatophytic agent. Keywords: antidermatophytic activity, Diospyros crassiflora, plumbagin Sudanese Journal of Dermatology Vol. 4(1) 2006: 10-1