Anti-fungal activity of Acalypha wilkesiana: a preliminary study of fungal isolates of clinical significance.
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Date
2022
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Publisher
Obafemi Awolowo University.
Abstract
Background: Acalypha wilkesiana (AW), a popular medicinal plant has been used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of skin disorders including pityriasis versicolor and seborrheic dermatitis. As a prelude to clinical trials in humans, an experimental study was carried out to determine the spectrum of antifungal activity of 2 variants of the Acalypha wilkesiana
plant.
Materials and Methods: The ethanol extract and herbal cream formulation of the dried leaves of 2 cultivars (Macrophylla & Hoffmani) of Acalypha wilkesiana were investigated for in-vitro antifungal activity by disc diffusion and micro-broth dilution techniques. Organisms tested were typed cultures of Malassezia furfur, Candida albicans and Trichophyton
rubrum; and clinical strains of Microsporum canis and Epidermophyton floccosum.
Results: Both cultivars (Macrophylla and Hoffmanii) of the plant showed good activity against all the fungi tested except
Microsporum canis (8.0±0.00; 7.00±0.00 mm). The greatest activity was observed against Trichophyton rubrum
(22.0±0.00; 24.00±0.00 mm). The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the crude extract ranged between 0.25 and
8 mg/ml for all organisms, while that of the herbal cream was 0.31-8mg/ml. The lowest MIC was seen with Candida
albicans for both varieties of the plant. The Acalypha wilkesiana Hoffmanii demonstrated a greater activity against
Candida albicans and Malassezia furufur than the A. wilkesiana Macrophylla.
Conclusion: This study reveals Acalypha wilkesiana leaf extract has potential for development as a cream that can be used
to treat superficial fungal skin infections.