ANTIMYCOTIC POTENTIAL OF SOME HERBAL EXTRACTS AGAINST HUMAN PATHOGENIC FUNGI

Deshpande Aarti R.*

ABSTRACT

Present study was conducted to evaluate the antimycotic potential of some medicinal plants. Organic extracts of parts of eight medicinal plants viz. Abrus precatorius, Careya arborea, Emblica officinalis, Soymida febrifuga, Syzygium cumini, Woodfordia fruticosa, Terminalia bellirica and Terminalia chebula were prepared by successive extraction with petroleum ether, acetone and 90% methanol. The extracts were tested against human fungal pathogens viz. Microsporum gypseum, Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans using disk diffusion method. Extracts of Plumbago zeylanica having strong antimycotic potential were also tested for comparative purpose. Extracts of all the plants exhibited strong antifungal activity against Microsporum gypseum. Antifungal activity against Candida albicans was detected only in Terminalia bellirica, Terminalia chebula and Plumbago zeylanica extracts. Besides P.zeylanica, significant antifungal activity was exhibited by extracts of five plants against Cryptococcus neoformans.

Keywords: Antimycotic potential, Miorosporum gypseum, Human fungal pathogens, Woodfordia fruticosa, Abrus precatorious Emblica officinalis.