Anti-dermatophyte activity of Cryptolepis buchanani Roem. & Schult

Abstract:

The present study was carried to determine antifungal activity of methanol and aqueous extracts of Cryptolepis buchanani Roem. & Schult against human dermatophytic fungi. The in vitro antifungal activity of solvent extracts was carried by Agar well diffusion method. Marked antifungal activity was observed. Methanol extract caused more inhibition of T. rubrum while C. keratinophilum was found to be more sensitive to aqueous extract than other fungi. The preliminary phytochemical analysis showed the presence of phytoconstituents namely saponins, alkaloids and tannins in solvent extracts which may be responsible for antifungal activity. Further studies on isolation of active constituents from solvent extracts and in vivo studies may possibly reveal the potential of plant to inhibit human dermatophytic fungi.