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

Authors

  • Oludolapo Sherifat KATIBI Dermatology Unit, Department of Paediatrics and Child health, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.
  • Mercy Itohan ABOH Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research & Development, Abuja, Nigeria
  • Oluwakayinsola Adeola SALAWU Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research & Development, Abuja, Nigeria
  • Adeola KOLA-MUSTAPHA Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
  • Lawrence Aderemi OLATUNJI Department of Physiology, College of health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21010/Ajidv17i1.7

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.

Author Biography

Oludolapo Sherifat KATIBI , Dermatology Unit, Department of Paediatrics and Child health, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.

Drug Research & Production Unit Faculty of Pharmacy Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife

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Published

2022-12-22

How to Cite

KATIBI , O. S., ABOH , M. I., SALAWU , O. A., KOLA-MUSTAPHA , A., & OLATUNJI , L. A. (2022). ANTI-FUNGAL ACTIVITY OF ACALYPHA WILKESIANA: A PRELIMINARY STUDY OF FUNGAL ISOLATES OF CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE. African Journal of Infectious Diseases (AJID), 17(1), 74. https://doi.org/10.21010/Ajidv17i1.7

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 1 (2023)

Section

Erratum

License

Copyright (c) 2023 African Journal of Infectious Diseases (AJID)

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