ANTI-FUNGAL ACTIVITY OF ACALYPHA WILKESIANA: A PRELIMINARY STUDY OF FUNGAL ISOLATES OF CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Authors

  • Katibi Oludolapo Sherifat 1Dermatology Unit, Department of Paediatrics and Child health, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
  • Aboh Mercy Itohan
  • Salawu Oluwakayinsola Adeola
  • Kola-Mustapha Adeola
  • Olatunji Lawrence Aderemi

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21010/Ajid%20v16i1.4

Keywords:

Anti-fungal; Acalypha wilkesiana; skin diseases; ethnobotanical medicine

Abstract

Background: Acalypha wilkesiana (AW), a popular medicinal plant has been used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of skin disorders including pityriasis versicolor and seborrheic dermatitis. As a prelude to clinical trials in humans, an experimental study was carried out to determine the spectrum of antifungal activity of 2 variants of the Acalypha wilkesiana plant.

Materials and Methods: The ethanol extract and herbal cream formulation of the dried leaves of 2 cultivars (Macrophylla & Hoffmani) of Acalypha wilkesiana were investigated for in-vitro antifungal activity by disc diffusion and micro-broth dilution techniques. Organisms tested were typed cultures of Malassezia furfur, Candida albicans and Trichophyton rubrum; and clinical strains of Microsporum canis and Epidermophyton floccosum.

Results: Both cultivars (Macrophylla and Hoffmanii) of the plant showed good activity against all the fungi tested except Microsporum canis (8.0±0.00; 7.00±0.00 mm). The greatest activity was observed against Trichophyton rubrum (22.0±0.00; 24.00±0.00 mm). The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the crude extract ranged between 0.25 and 8 mg/ml for all organisms, while that of the herbal cream was 0.31-8mg/ml.  The lowest MIC was seen with Candida albicans for both varieties of the plant. The Acalypha wilkesiana Hoffmanii demonstrated a greater activity against Candida albicans and Malassezia furufur than the A. wilkesiana Macrophylla.

Conclusion: This study reveals Acalypha wilkesiana leaf extract has potential for development as a cream that can be used to treat superficial fungal skin infections.

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Published

2021-12-21

How to Cite

Sherifat, K. O., Itohan, A. M., Adeola, S. O., Adeola, K.-M., & Aderemi, O. L. (2021). ANTI-FUNGAL ACTIVITY OF ACALYPHA WILKESIANA: A PRELIMINARY STUDY OF FUNGAL ISOLATES OF CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE. African Journal of Infectious Diseases (AJID), 16(1), 21–30. https://doi.org/10.21010/Ajid v16i1.4

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 1 (2022)

Section

Articles

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