In vitro Anti-dermatophyte Activities of Crude Extracts of Cassia alata

Aim: To study the in vitro anti dermatophyte activities of methanol and cold water extracts of Cassia alata.

Study Design: Experimental.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Applied Microbiology and Brewing, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Nigeria between June 2011 to January 2013.

Methodology: Clinical samples were collected from 201 rice farmers with lesions suggestive of cutaneous mycoses in Anambra State, Nigeria and identified. Methanol extraction of the dried leaves of C. alata and the aqueous extraction of the plant's fresh leaves were carried out. Discs impregnated with different concentrations (10mg, 20mg, 40mg, 80mg) of extracts were tested against the isolated dermatophytes. Discs impregnated with 2% Dimethyl Sulphoxide (DMSO) and 2mg/disc ketoconazole served as negative and positive controls respectively. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and the Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) of the crude extracts against the isolated dermatophytes were determined using broth dilution method.

Results: Recovered dermatophytes include Microsporum audouinii, Microsporum ferrugineum, Trichophyton megninii, Trichophyton tonsurans and Trichophyton rubrum. All the tested dermatophytes were sensitive to the methanol extracts of C. alata at concentration of ≥10mg/disc. MIC value of 50mg/ml was recorded for all the test dermatophytes except M. audouinii whose MIC value was 25mg/ml. Fungicidal action was exhibited against the tested dermatophytes at higher concentration of ≥100mg/ml. Cold water extracts of the test plant also showed total inhibitory action against the dermatophytes.

Conclusion: The crude extracts exhibited fungicidal actions against the test dermatophytes and so the plant leaves could serve as raw materials in the development of non toxic, non resistant and affordable drugs for the treatment and control of ringworm infections.