Antifungal properties of Brazilian cerrado plants

Abstract

Ethanolic extracts from leaves of Hyptis ovalifolia, H. suaveolens, H. saxatilis, Hyptidendrum canum, Eugenia uniflora, E. dysenterica, Caryocar brasiliensis and Lafoensia pacari were investigated for their antifungal activity against dermatophytes. The most effective plants were H. ovalifolia and E. uniflora, while Trichophyton rubrum was the most sensitive among the four dermatophytes species evaluated. This study has demonstrated antifungal properties of Brazilian Cerrado plant extracts in "in vitro" assays.

Antifungal activity from Ocimum gratissimum L. towards Cryptococcus neoformans

“…neoformans in immunocompromissed patients undergoing prolonged azole treatment (Alves et al 1997, Momoff & Parrish 2003 The medicinal plants have been used for several purposes including antimicrobial effects and have showed inhibition of growth to fungi. Caryocar brasiliensis, plant widely distributed in Brazil, has in vitro activity against Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and C. neoformans while Hyptis ovalifolia, plant native from Brazilian cerrado, has inhibitory effect on dermatophytes (Souza et al 2002). We are interested on antifungal activity of Ocimum gratissimum, plant known as alfavaca cravo, which has presented in vitro inhibitory effect against bacteria as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and some fungi as dermatophytes (Lima et al 1993, Nakamura et al 1999.…”

Water potential and viability of seeds of Eugenia (Myrtaceae), a tropical tree species, based upon different levels of drying

“…Several species of this genus are ornamental and besides their ecological use, they could be included as urban trees and for economic or pharmacological aims (Delgado and Barbedo 2007). For example, xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity and antifungal agents used in the treatment of dermatophyte infections were found in E. uniflora (Schmeda-Hirschmann et al 1987;Souza et al 2002). Despite their importance, data on the seed behavior of these species are scarce and not conclusive.…”

Antimicrobial activity of Hyptis ovalifolia towards dermatophytes

“…In the earlier studies Souza et al (2002) verified that the crude extract of this plant inhibited growth of dermatophyte isolates at concentrations between 15.6 to 1000 µg/ml. Paula et al (2001) showed that a crude extract of the leaves of this plant has activity against Cryptococcus neoformans, one of the most important fungi responsible for meningitis in HIV patients.…”

“…The use of medicinal herbs in the treatment of skin diseases including mycotic infections is an age-old practice in many parts of the world (Irobi et al 1993). This use has been supported by the isolation of active antifungal compounds from plant extracts (Costa et al 2000.Previous reports on the activity of ethanolic extract from leaves of Hyptis ovalifolia against dermatophytes have been reported by Souza et al (2002). In this study the antifungal activity of the essential oil and the aqueous, hexane, and methanolic fractions from H. ovalifolia leaves against 60 dermatophytes is described.…”

“…Previous reports on the activity of ethanolic extract from leaves of Hyptis ovalifolia against dermatophytes have been reported by Souza et al (2002). In this study the antifungal activity of the essential oil and the aqueous, hexane, and methanolic fractions from H. ovalifolia leaves against 60 dermatophytes is described.…”