Evaluation of the antifungal activities of various extracts from Desf.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Despite the availability of various treatments for fungal diseases, there are some limitations in the management of these conditions due to multiple treatment-related side-effects. The present study was designed to investigate the antifungal properties of different extracts from Desf.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Different parts of (i.e., dried fruit, fresh fruit and dried leaf) were separately extracted via percolation method with 80% methanol and water. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis was performed to determine the main constituents of leaf and fruit extracts from . anti- activities of the extracts against , and were studied. For this purpose, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFCs) were determined, using broth microdilution method, according to the modified M27-A3 protocol on yeasts, proposed by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI).

RESULTS

Based on GC/MS analysis, the main constituents of fruit extracts were β-myrcene (41.4%), α-pinene (32.48%) and limonene (4.66%), respectively, whereas the major constituents of leaf extracts were trans-caryophyllene (15.18%), α-amorphene (8.1%) and neo-allo-ocimene (6.21%), respectively. As the findings indicated, all the constituents exhibited both fungistatic and fungicidal activities, with MICs ranging from 6.66 to 26.66 mg/mL and MFCs ranging from 13.3 to 37.3 mg/mL, respectively. Among the evaluated extracts, the methanolic fresh fruit extract of was significantly more effective than other extracts (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Based on the findings of the present study, novel antifungal agents need to be developed, and use of should be promoted in the traditional treatment of infections.