Antifungal activity and phytochemical screening of Calotropis procera leaf extracts against some dermatophytes

Abstract

Medicinal plants play a vital role in covering the basic health needs in developing countries. The study was aimed to screen for phytochemicals and to determine the antifungal activity of C. procera leaf extracts against some dermatophytes. Clinical isolates of Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes Microsporum canis and Epidermophyton floccosum were obtain from Pathology Department of Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital Kano. Phytochemical screening of the extract was done using laboratory method while agar well diffusion method was used for determination of antifungal activity of the extracts. The result indicated the presence of alkaloid, saponin, phenol, flavonoid, and glycoside, tannin, reducing sugar, resin and terpenoid in ethanol extract while aqueous extracts contain all except resin and steroids. Based on the activity of the extracts, the finding indicated Microsporum canis is the most sensitive isolate with average zone of inhibition of 10.75 mm, followed by T. rubrum (9.50 mm), and T. mentagrophytes (9.00 mm) while the sensitivity was shown by E. floccosum with average of 8.00 mm. The ethanolic extract is more active with zone of inhibition (9.31 mm) as compared to aqueous extract (9.17 mm). It is concluded that the leaf extracts of C. procera possesses antifungal activity.