Phytochemical Analysis and Antifungal Activity of Ficus Sycomorus L. (Moraceae) Extracts on some Dermatophytic Fungi

Ficus sycomorus L is a large, semi-deciduous spreading savannah tree that belongs to the family (Moraceae) is used by many tribes in the treatments of skin infections. The aim of this study was to carry out phytochemical analysis and antifungal evaluation of F. sycomorus L. stem and leaf Methanol extract on some dermatophytic fungi. The stem and leaf crude extracts were obtained after drying using maceration and percolation with methanol as the solvent. The extract was subjected to qualitative phytochemical screening as well as GC-MS analysis for the presence of bioactive constituents. The antifungal inhibitory effect of the crude stem and leaf extracts was assessed by agar well diffusion methods. The phytochemical screening revealed that the leaves and stem-bark contained secondary metabolites such as tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, reducing sugar and steroid. The GC-MS assay showed that the most prevailing compound in the methanolic stem-bark extract was 2, 9, Diazabicyclo (4, 4, 0) decane-3,10 dione, while in the methanolic leaves extract was acetic acid. The anti-dermatophytic assay of the extracts against Microsporum canis and Tricophyton tonsurans showed that the extracts inhibited the fungi with zones of inhibitions ranging from 6.33±0.47 to 24.33±0.47mm with the leaf extract exhibiting higher inhibition zones than the stem extract (p˂0.01). The study shows that both the stem and leaf methanol extract of Ficus sycomorus L possesses antifungal activity and should be considered as a potential antifungal agent in search of newer agents to address dermatophytic fungal infections Key words: Ficus sycomorus L, Phytochemical/GC-MS Analysis, Antifungal activity

New Record of Bipolaris cynodontis: An Emerging Human Pathogen Causing Superficial Mycosis in North India

Superficial mycosis, a common fungal infection affecting people worldwide are prevalent in the tropical and subtropical countries, mostly caused by the dermatophytes but nowadays, there is an increase in the incidence of these infections being caused by non-dermatophytic fungi and yeasts. Among non-dermatophytes, Bipolaris species, usually known to cause diseases in plants, have also emerged as potent human pathogens in the past years. Reports on Bipolaris species associated with clinical human skin samples are rare worldwide with no reports on B. cynodontis as a causal agent of superficial human skin mycoses from India. We report the first case of superficial mycosis caused by B. cynodontis that affected the feet of a 19-year-old female student from Jammu district, Jammu and Kashmir, India. Thus, the causal agent described in the research communication constitutes a new addition to the list of pathogenic non-dermatophytes associated with human skin.

Study of Dermatophytosis in a Tertiary Care Centre in Central India

BACKGROUND Mycoses are assuming greater significance both in developed and developing countries particularly due to advent of immunosuppressive drugs and diseases. Dermatophytosis is most common type of cutaneous fungal infections seen in man, though in past few decades non-dermatophytes are also assuming importance. Present study is undertaken to know the pattern of dermatophytosis from our region. METHODS An observational study was conducted on 150 samples of patients with complaints of superficial mycoses. Samples were processed for microscopy on potassium hydroxide (KOH) mount and culture on Sabouraud’s dextrose agar (SDA) with and without cycloheximide and chloramphenicol. Any growth was identified by conventional technique. RESULTS One hundred and fifty samples consisting of 86 skin and 64 nails were studied. Most samples were seen in rainy season and males were predominantly affected. Adults from age of 21 - 50 years were most commonly affected. Most common clinical presentation was tinea corporis (70.93 %). In dermatophytic causes, T. mentagrophytes (36.21 %), T. tonsurans (27.59 %) followed by T. rubrum (15.52 %) were common isolates. In non-dermatophytic causes, candida spp. followed by aspergillus spp. were commonest isolates. CONCLUSIONS Tinea corporis is found to be the commonest presentation. Along with dermatophytes, non-dermatophytic fungi are also emerging as the cause of superficial mycoses. In non-dermatophytic fungi, candida is the commonest species, which is now a days showing drug resistance; hence, identification of causative agent is important for correct and prompt treatment. KEY WORDS Dermatophytosis, Non-Dermatophytic Fungi, Dermatophytic Fungi

New pathogenic species in etiology of dermatophytosis in companion animals in Moscow region

Dermatophytic fungi Nannizzia persicolor, Nannizzia fulva, Trichophyton benhamiae and Microsporum ferrugineum were isolated from pets (cats, dogs, guinea pig) in Moscow region. The species identification was confirmed by ITS sequencing. Their macro- and micromorphological agent of dermatophytosis in companion animals. A considerable phenotypic polymorphism among M canis isolates was revealed, thus obstructing species identification. A wide prevalence of dermatophytosis in companion animals (46%) was shown, with a predominance of the zooanthropophilic species M. canis (95%). This is the first confirmed cases of pet dermatophytosis caused by N. persicolor, N. fulva, T. benhamiae and M. ferrugineum in Russian Federation.

MYCOSTATIC ACTIVITY OF EXTRACTS FROM LEAVES OF PLANTAGO MEDIA L. AND PLANTAGO ALTISSIMA L.

A variety of drugs are widely used to treat fungal infections. Mostly they are products of chemical synthesis, but recently, due to the increased resistance of fungi to many synthetic drugs, the relevance of the use of herbal remedies in the complex treatment of both skin infections and deep mycoses has been increasing. The aim of our research was to study the chemical composition of the lyophilic extracts of Plantago media and Plantago altissima of the flora of Ukraine by HPLC and GLC-MS methods and also mycostatic activity of ethanol and lyophilic extracts of the studied plants. As a result of the research, aucubin iridoid was detected in the lyophilic extracts of both species. There were also detected 15 polyphenolic compounds among which prevails acteoside, plantamayoside, ferulic and chlorogenic acid. Alcohol and lyophilic extracts of P. media and P. altissima showed mycostatic activity to all studied strains of yeast, dermatophytic fungi and aspergillus. The mycostatic effect of alcoholic extracts of P. media and P. altissima was more evident in comparison with the mycostatic effect of lyophilic extracts. The most evident antifungal effect was presented by alcoholic extract of P. media in relation to the clinical strain of Aspergillus oryzae (18.0±1.0 mm), and alcoholic extract of P. altissima to the clinical strain of Malassezia sp. (18.0±0.5 mm). The data obtained indicate a wide range of mycostatic effects of Plantago media and Plantago altissima extracts and the prospectivity of these objects for practical use in medicine.