Antifungal activity of aqueous and methanolic leaf extracts of African spider flower plant (Cleome gynandra l) on a selected human dermatophytes

Abstract

Background; spider flower plant (Cleome gynandra L.) is an edible weed used in some parts of northern Uganda topically for its presumed antifungal activity against Tinea capitis. The aim of this study was to determine if this plant possesses antifungal activity in vitro, since T. capitis is a pervasive infection among especially rural children. Method; Antifungal activity assay was performed by Broth dilution method, and testing done on a clinical isolate of Tinea capitis-causing dermatophytotic fungal strain Trichophyton spp. Evaluation of in vitro antifungal activity of the methanolic and aqueous extracts of C. gynandra was done to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and screening for the phytochemicals Results; the methanolic leaf extract was more sensitive on the Trichophyton with a MIC which was <0.00078g/ml whereas aqueous leaf extracts had MIC of 0.0078g/ml on Trichophyton. The phytochemical found in present included tannins and alkaloids which were present in both extracts with Flavonoids, Steroids glycosides and Antherecenosides were present only in the aqueous extract Conclusion; Both plant extracts demonstrated antifungal activity, shown by the MIC for the different extracts on the fungal strain under the study. The methanolic extract exhibited comparable antifungal activity to the aqueous extract indicated by the MIC values seen.