IN VITRO EVALUATION OF OCIMUM SANCTUM LEAF EXTRACT AGAINST DERMATOPHYTES AND OPPORTUNISTIC FUNGI

摘要

The antifungal activity of different solvent extracts from Ocimum sanctum Linn leaf was evaluated against two human pathogenic dermatophytes namely Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and T. tonsurans and two opportunistic fungi Candida albicans and Trichosporon beigelii at 20, 10 and 5% concentrations. Petroleum ether extract of O. sanctum leaf exhibited broad spectrum of inhibitory activity producing the highest inhibition zone diameter of 40.0mm in T. mentagrophytes and Trichosporon beigelii and 35.0mm and 25.0mm inhibition zone against T. tonsurans and C. albicans respectively at 20% conc. At 10 and 5% conc, also petroleum ether extract exhibited broad spectrum of activity against all the test fungi. Chloroform extract showed activity against T.mentagrophytes and Trichosporon beigelii, exhibiting 29.0-23.0mm and 21.5-15.5mm inhibition zone respectively at 20 to 5% concentrations. Methanol extract was found inhibitory against T. mentagrophytes (17.0-12.0mm inhibition zone) only. However, none of the pathogens was found to be susceptible to water extract of O. sanctum leaf. Reference standard clotrimazole showed a higher degree of inhibition when compared with O. sanctum leaf extracts.