In vitro antidermatophytic activity and cytotoxicity of extracts derived from medicinal plants and marine algae

摘要

ObjectivesThis study was conducted to evaluate the antidermatophytic activity of 48 extracts obtained from medicinal plants (Cibotium barometz,Melastoma malabathricum,Meuhlenbeckia platyclada,Rhapis excelsa,Syzygium myrtifolium,Vernonia amygdalina) and marine algae (Caulerpa sertularioides,Kappaphycus alvarezii) againstTrichophyton rubrumandTrichophyton interdigitale(ATCC reference strains), and the cytotoxicity using African monkey kidney epithelial (Vero) cells. Active plant extracts were screened for the presence of phytochemicals and tested against clinical isolates ofTrichophyton tonsurans. MethodsSix different extracts (hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol, methanol and water) were obtained from each plant or algae sample using sequential solvent extraction. The antidermatophytic activity for the extracts was assessed using a colourimetric broth microdilution method. The viability of Vero cells was measured by Neutral Red uptake assay. ResultsAll the extracts (except the water extracts ofV.?amygdalina,C.?sertularioidesandK.?alvarezii) showed antidermatophytic activity againstTrichophytonspp. The minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) ranges for the plant extracts againstT.?rubrumandT.?interdigitaleare 0.0025–2.50 and 0.005–2.50mg/mL, respectively. The algae extracts exhibited lower potency against both species, showing MFC ranges of 0.08–2.50 and 0.31–2.50mg/mL, respectively. The ethanol and methanol extracts from the leaves ofR.?excelsa, and the methanol and water extracts from the leaves ofS.?myrtifoliumwere highly active (MFC 2.8) against reference strains ofT.?rubrumandT.?interdigitale, and most of the clinical isolates ofT.?tonsurans. Phytochemical analysis indicates the presence of alkaloids, anthraquinones, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, phenolics and triterpenoids in the extracts. ConclusionsThe medicinal plant extracts exhibited stronger antidermatophytic activity compared to the algae extracts. The leaves ofR.?excelsaandS.?myrtifoliumare potential sources of new antidermatophytic agents againstTrichophytonspp.