Anticandidal and Antidermatophytic Activities of Caulerpa Species from the Gulf of Mannar Coast, Mandapam Tamilnadu India

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the antifungal activity of hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol extracts of Caulerpa chemnitzia , (Epser) J.V. Lamououx C. racemosa (Forsk) , and C. scalpelliformis (R.Br.) Weber-van-Bosse, (Chlorophyceae) against Candida albicans , C. krusei , C. guilliermondii , C. parapsilosis , C. tropicalis, C. glabrata , four dermatophytes viz., Trichophyton rubrum , T. mentagrophytes, Microsporum gypseum and Epidermophyton flocossum . The antifungal activity was evaluated by agar disc diffusion method, determination of MIC and MFC. The mean zones of inhibition produced by the extracts in disc diffusion assay against the tested fungal strains were ranged from 7.1 to 15.1 mm. The lowest MIC (250 µg/ml) and MFC (500 µg/ml) values were observed in the ethyl acetate extract of C. racemosa against C. parapsilosis, C. albicans , C. krusei , C. glabrata, C. guilliermondii, T. rubrum, M. gypseum and T. mentagrophytes. The finding suggests that ethyl acetate extract of C. racemosa showed the higher antifungal activity against C. parapsilosis and C. albicans .