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Mycoses. 1999;42(11-12):665-72.  Antifungal activity of plant extracts against dermatophytes. Ali-Shtayeh MS1, Abu Ghdeib SI.  1Department of Biological Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine.

The aqueous extracts (15 micrograms ml-1 medium) of 22 plants used in folkloric medicine in Palestine were investigated for their antifungal activity and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against nine isolates of Microsporum canis, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichophyton violaceum.

The extract of the different plant species reduced colony growth of the three dermatophytes by 36 to 100% compared with the control treatment. Antimycotic activity of the extract against the three dermatophytes varied significantly (P < 0.05) between test plants.

Extracts of Capparis spinosa and Juglans regia completely prevented growth of M. canis and T. violaceum.

The most active extracts (90-100% inhibition) were those of

• Anagallis arvensis - Scarlet pimpernel,
• C. spinose - Caper
• J. regia - Persian walnut, English walnut
• Pistacia lentiscus Mastic and
• Ruta chalapensis - Fringed rue

against M. canis;

• Inula viscosa - yellow fleabane,
• J. regia Persian walnut, English walnut and
• P. lentiscus - Mastic

against T. mentagrophytes; and

• Asphodelus luteus,  - King's Spear, Yellow Asphodel
• Arvensis - Scarlet pimpernel,
• spinose - Caper
• Clematis cirrhosa,
• Viscosa - yellow fleabane,
• J. regia - Persian walnut, English walnut,
• P. lentiscus - Mastic,
• Plumbago europea - common leadwort,
• Ruscus aculeatus - butcher's-broom,
• Retema raetam and
• Salvia fruticose - Greek oregano or Greek sage

 against T. violaceum.

The MICs of these most active plants ranged from 0.6 to 40 micrograms ml-1. The three dermatophytes differed significantly with regard to their susceptibility to plant extracts. Trichophyton violaceum was the most susceptible being completely inhibited by 50% of the extracts followed by M. canis and T. mentagrophytes which were completely inhibited by only 23 and 14% of the extracts, respectively.

PMID: 10680445