Antifungal activity of methanol extract against , , and on rat dermatophytosis models.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Dermatophytosis is one of the most prevalent zoonotic diseases. Increased resistance of dermatophytosis-causing pathogens against antidermatophytic agents highlights the need for alternative medicine with higher efficiency and lower side effects. In the present study, the antifungal activities of different concentrations of methanol extract against , , and were assessed and their efficacy was evaluated in rat dermatophytosis models.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The broth microdilution and well diffusion methods were used to determine the antidermatophytic activity. The study was carried out using 40 dermatophytosis-infected adults male Wistar rats. The animals were divided into 4 groups (5% and 10% ointment, terbinafine, and Vaseline) and treated with ointment until complete recovery. The percentage of wound closure was calculated for each group.

RESULTS

The results revealed that methanol extract was effective to varying extents against the tested dermatophytes. The highest inhibitory activity of was found against with minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum fungicidal concentration values of 4 and 9 µg mL, respectively. The experiment revealed that 10% ointment significantly accelerated skin lesions reduction and completely cured , , and infections after 19, 25, and 38 days, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The methanol extract of exhibited significant antifungal activity and , suggesting that it could be used as an alternative to antidermatophytic therapy in a dose-dependent manner.