Antifungal activity of fruit extract against : and study.

BACKGROUND

T (), commonly known as scalp ringworm, is a fungal infection affecting the scalp and hair. Among the causative agents, () stands out, often transmitted from cats to humans (). In this study, we investigated the efficacy of (), fruit extract against dermatophytes, particularly , both and . Additionally, we aimed to identify the active compounds responsible for suppressing fungal growth and assess the toxicity of on human cells.

METHODOLOGY

It conducted in two parts. First, Study include the preparation of fruit extract using methanol as the solvent, Phytochemical analysis of the plant extract including Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was conducted, Cytotoxicity assays were performed using HUH-7 cells, employing the MTT assay (1-(3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide), Antimicrobial activity against was evaluated, including: Zone of inhibition (ZI), Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), Minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC), cell alterations were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Second, , Albino Wistar male rats were included.

RESULTS

The phytochemical analysis of the methanolic extract from papaya revealed several functional groups, including hydroxyl, ammonia, alkane, carbonate, and alcohol. Additionally, the GC-MS analysis identified 15 compounds, with xanthosine and decanoic acid being the predominant components. The methanolic extract of papaya fruits demonstrated potent antifungal activity: ZI = 37 mm, MIC = 1,000 μg/mL, MFC = 1900 μg/mL, MTT results indicated lower cytotoxicity of the fruit extract at concentrations of 20 μg/mL, 50 μg/mL, 100 μg/mL, 150 μg/mL, and 200 μg/mL, The IC50 revealed a significant decrease in cell viability with increasing extract concentration. Notably, papaya extract induced considerable alterations in the morphology of hyphae and spores. In animal tissue, improvements were observed among the group of rats which treated with Papaya extract. This study highlights the potential of fruits as a natural antifungal agent, warranting further exploration for clinical applications.