The treatment of human mycosis has been a great challenge before the clinicians

and dermatologists. In one hand, the opportunistic fungal infections are increasing with

alarming rate, while on the other; allergic reactions of the skin are increasing day to day. The

later is due to a higher rate of sensitization power of the present generation of anti-mycotic

agents. Potential human pathogenic fungi in general and opportunistic fungal infections in

particular are usually treated by the use of drugs belonging to the imidazole family. But these

potent anti-mycotics are in the hands of rich and not responding to the new spectrum of

opportunistic fungal infections which are common in immune-compromised hosts. Therefore,

to combat newly borne spectrum of fungal infections, step should be taken to make the

benefits of successful pharmaceutical research available to all and especially to those who

are in the greatest need. In fact, it is the need of hour to search for new antifungal agents of

herbal origin which are relatively economically affordable, safer and easily available to

common men. Moreover, sometimes imidazole derivatives are not effective owing to which

alternative drugs are required. A perusal of literature indicates that many investigators have

been reported fungi static and bacteriostatic properties of phytochemicals of higher plants.

Table 2.1: The Antimicrobial Era: Plants Secondary Metabolites

Common name Scientific name Compound Class Activity

Aloe

Apple

Ashwagandha

Bael Tree

Barbery

Basil

Bay

Betel pepper

Black pepper

Cascara

sagrada

Cashew

Chili peppers

Aloe barbadensis, Aloe

vera

Malus sylvestris

Withania somniferum

Aegle marmelos

Berberis vulgaris

Ocimum basilicum

Laurus nobillis

Piper betel

Piper nigrum

Rhamnus purshana

Anacardium pulsatilla

Capsicum

Latex

Phloretin

Withaferin A

Essesntial oil

Berberine

Essential oils

Essential oils

Catechols,

Eugenol

Piperine

Tannins

Salicylic acids

Capsaicin

Eugenol

Complex

mixture

Flavonoid

derivative

Lactone

Terpenoid

Alkaloid

Terpenoid

Terpenoid

Essential oils

Alkaloid

Polyphenols

Polyphenols

Terpenoid

Corynebacterium,

Salmonella,

Streptococcus,

Staphylococcus aureus

General

Bacteria, Fungi

Fungi

Bacteria, Protozoa

Salmonella,

Bacteria

Bacteria, fungi

General

Fungi, Lactobacillus,

Micrococcus,

Escherichia coli,

Escherichia faecalis

Virus, Bacteria, Fungi

Propionibacterium acnes

Bacteria

Clove

Coca

Dill

Fava bean

Garlic

Grape fruit

Green tea

Hemp

Henna

Legume

Lemon balm

Olive oil

Onion

Orange peel

Oregon grape

Papaya

Szygium aromaticum

Erythroxylum coca

Anethum graveolens

Vicia faba

Allium sativum

Citrus paradise

Camellia sinensis

Cannabis sativa

Lawsonia innermis

Millettia

Melissa officinalis

Olea europaea

Allium cepa

Citrus

Mahonia aquifolia

Carica papaya

Cocaine

Essential oil

Fabatin

Allicin, ajoene

-

Catechin

β-resercyclic

acid

Gallic acid

Alpinumiso-

flavone

Tannins

Hexanal

Allicin

-

Berberine

Latex

Methanol

Terpenoid

Alkaloid

Terpenoid

Thionin

Sulfoxide

Sulfated

Terpenoid

Terpenoid

Flavonoid

Organic acid

Phenolic

Flavone

Polyphenols

Aldehyde

Sulfoxide

Terpenoid

Alkaloid

Mix of

General

Gram negative and

positive cocci

Bacteria

Bacteria

General

Fungi

General, Shigella vibrio,

Streptococcus mutans,

Viruses

Bacteria and viruses

S.aureus

Schistosomia

Viruses

General

Bacteria, Candida

Fungi

Plasmodium

trypanosomes, General

General

General

Peppermint

Poppy

Quinine

Sainfoin

Tansy

Tree bard

Turmeric

Valerian

Winter green

Menthe piperita

Papaver somniferum

Cinchona sp.

Onobrychis viciifolia

Tanacetum vulgare

Podocarpus nagi

Curcuma longa

Valeriana officinales

Gaultheria procumbens

Opium

Quinine

Tannins

Essential oils

Totarol

Nagilactone

Curcumin

Essential oil

Tannins

terpenoids,

organic acids,

alkaloids

Terpenoid

Alkaloids and

others

Alkaloid

Polyphenols

Terpenoid

Flavonol

Lactone

Terpenoids

Terpenoid

Polyphenols

General

Plasmodium spp.

Ruminal bacteria

General

Propionibacterium

acnes, other gram-

positive bacteria

Fungi

Bacteria, Protozoa

General

General

General denotes activity against multiple types of micro-organisms like Bacteria, fungi and

protozoa (Cowan, 1999).

2.2. Natural products- antifungal agents derived from plants

Plants have an almost limitless ability to synthesize aromatic substances of different

functional groups, most of which are phenols or their oxygen-substituted derivatives.

Maximum compounds are secondary metabolites, of which more than 13,000 have been

isolated that is less than 10% of the total. In many cases, these substances serve as plant

defense mechanisms against predation by microorganisms, insects and herbivores. Some

plants used for their odors (terpenoids), pigment (quinones and tannins), and flavor

(terpenoid capsaicin from chili peppers) were found to be endowed with medicinal

properties. Some of the herbs and spices used by humans as season food yield useful

medicinal compounds. Some of these are summerised as follows:

Table 2.2.1: Natural antifungals derived from plants

S.No. Antifungal Compound Source Activity Category /Group

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

3-hydroxy-4-geranyl-5-methoxy

biphenyl

Polyisoprenylated benzophenone

4-Hydroxyphenyl-6-O-[(3R)-3,4-

dihydroxy-2-methylenebutanoyl]-D-glucopyranoside

Amentoflavone

Eupomatenoid-3, eupomatenoid-5 , conocarpan and orientin

2-hydroxy maackiain

Hispidulin and belamcanidin

Clausenidin , dentatin, nor-dentatin, and carbazole

derivatives, and clauszoline J

1-tigloyloxy-8bH,10bH-eremophil-7(11)-en-8a,12-olide

Dihydrofuranocoumarin,

20(S),30(R)- 20-acetoxyisopropyl-30-acetoxy-

20,30-ihydroangelicin,

5,8-dihydroxyumbelliprenin

Garcinia

mangustana (Fruits)

Cuban propolis

(Ethanol extract)

Toronia toru (Foliage)

Selaginella tamariscina

Piper solmsianum

Hildegardiabarteri (Root extract)

Artemisia giraldii

Clausena excavata

Senecio poepigii

Tordylium apulum (Aerial part)

Fsafetida foetida

-

Bacteria and yeast

Antimicrobial

Fungi

Dermatophytes

Antifungal

Human pathogenic fungi

Antimycotic

Antifungal

Antifungal

Dermatophytes

Phenol

Phenol

Phenol

Flavonoid

Flavonoid

Isoflavon

Flavones

Coumarines

Coumarines

Coumarines

Coumarines

12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25.

Naphthoquinones kigelinone,

isopinnatal, dihydro-a-lapachone, and lapachol

11-hydroxy-16-hentriacontanone

8-chloro- 2,7-dimethyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (8-chlorochimaphilin)

Hopeanolin

1,3-dihydroxy-2-methyl-5,6-dimethoxyanthraquinone

Phytolaccosides B and E

Ypsilandroside B, ypsilandroside A, isoypsilandroside A,

isoypsilandroside B, and isoypsilandrogaine

Sansevierin A, sansevistatin 1,

and sansevistatin 2

Caledonixanthone E

1,7-dihydroxy-4-methoxyxanthone

1,3,6-Trihydroxy-2,5-dimethoxyxanthone

2-hydroxy-3-methylbut-3-enyl-substituted xanthones, (±)-caledol and (±)- dicaledol

Isoprenylated xanthone,

cudrafrutixanthone

2-(3,4-dimethyl-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)-1-methylethyl

pentanoate

Kigelia pinnata

Annona squamosa

Moneses uniflora

Hopea exalata (Stem bark)

Prismatomeris

fragrans (Roots)

Phytolacca tetramera

Ypsilandra thebetica

Sansevieria ehrenbergii

Calophyllum caledonicum (Stem Bark)

Securidaca

longepedunculata (Dichloromethane

extract)

Monnina obtusifolia

(Aerial part)

Calophyllum caledonicum

Cudrania fruticosa

Datura metel

Antifungal

Antifungal

Antimicrobial

Antifungal

Antifungal

Human pathogenic (opportunistic) fungi

Antimicrobial

Antimicrobial, Candida albicans, Chrysosporium.

neoformans

Antifungal

Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus niger, A.

fumigatus and Penicillum species

Antifungal

A. fumigatus

C. albicans

Aspergillus and Candida species

Quinones

Quinones

Quinones

Quinones

Quinones

Saponins

Steroidal saponin

Saponin

Xanthones

Xanthones

Xanthones

Xanthones

Xanthones

Alkaloids

26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41.

6,8-didec-(1Z)-enyl-5,7-

dimethyl-2,3- dihydro-1H-indolizinium

Bromo-8-n-hexylberberine

N-methylhydrasteine hydroxylactam and 1-

methoxyberberine chloride

Cinnamodial and cinnamosmolide

Venenatine

Antofine

Sampangine

Cycleanine, cocsoline, and N-desmethylcycleanine

Cicerarin

AFP-J

8,17-epoxylabd-12-ene-15,16-dial

Sesquiterpene, 6-cinnamoyloxy-

1-hydroxyeudesm-4-en-3-one

8-acetylheterophyllisine, anicutine,and 3-hydroxy-2-

methyl-4H-pyran-4-one

16ahydroxy-cleroda-3,13(14)-Z-diene-15,16-olide and 16-oxo-cleroda-3,13(14)-Ediene-15-oic

acid

Oleanane triterpenoid, triterpenetetrol

Lupenone, 3b-acetoxy-cycloart-

Aniba panurensis

derivative of berberine,

Corydalis longipes

Pleodendron costaricense

Alstonia venenata

Ficus septica

Cananga odorata,

(Stem Bark)

Albertisia villosa

Cicer arietinum

(Seeds)

Solanum tuberosum,

(Potato tubers)

Alpinia galanga

Vernonanthura tweedieana

Delphinium denudatum

(Roots)

Polyalthia longifolia (Hexane extract of

seeds)

Leontodon filii (chloroform extract

of aerial parts)

Euphorbia segetalis

C. albicans

C. albicans

Antifungal

C. albicans and Wangiella dermatitides

Antifungal

Antifungal

Antifungal

Antifungal

Antifungal

C. albicans, Trichosporon beigelii,

Saccharomyces cerevisiae

C. albicans

Trichophyton mentagrophytes

Human pathogenic fungi

Antifungal

Antifungal

Antifungal

Alkaloids

Alkaloids

Alkaloids

Alkaloids

Alkaloids

Alkaloids

Alkaloids

Alkaloids

Peptide

Protein

Diterpene

Sesquiterpene

Terpenoid

Diterpenoid

Triterpenoid

Triterpenoid

42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51.

25-en-24-one glutinol, dammaranodienol , cycloartenol

acetate, and 24- methylenecycloartanol acetate

Santolinylol and pinitol

N-trans-feruloyl-4-methyldopamine

Methyl 2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-chromene-6-carboxylate, and

methyl 2,2-dimethyl-8-(30-methyl-20-butenyl)-2H- 1- chromene-6-carboxylate

2’,4’-Dihydroxy-3’-methoxychalcone

And 2’,4’-dihydroxychalcone

α-pyrones

Ethyl N-docosanoylanthranilate

Falcarindiol and sarisan

Glucuronopyranoside and rhamnopyranoside

Methyl populnoate, populnoic acid, and stigmast-5-en-3-O-β-

(D-glucopyranoside)

Neolignans

Artemisia giraldii

Achranthes ferruginea

Piper aduncum

Zuccagnia punetata (Dichloromethane

extract)

Ravensara anisata

Gentiana tibetica

Heteromorpha Trifoliate (Leaves)

Lupinus

angustifolius

Austroplenckia populnea

Piper regnellii (Leaves)

Human pathogenic fungi

Antifungal

Antifungal

C. albicans, S. cerevisiae,

C. neoformans, Microsporum gypseum,

T. rubrum, T. mentagrophytes

C. albicans

C. albicans, A. flavus

Antifungal

C. albicans

C. glabrata, C. albicans

Dermatophytic fungi

Terpenoid

Other compound

Other compound

Other compound

Other compound

Other compound

Other compound

Other compound

Other compound

Other compound

Source: Arif et al (2009)

2.3. Noteworthy contribution in the field

A review of literature reveals that a significant contribution has been made on

antimycotic potential of genus Calotropis. The antimicrobial activity of two species of

Calotropis viz. Calotropis gigantea and Calotropis procera, found in India, are summerised

as-

Table 2.3.1: Antimicrobial activity of Calotropis species

Plant Species Part/Parts Used For

Antimicrobial Activity Target Microbes Refrences

Calotropis gigantea

Calotropis gigantea

Calotropis gigantea

Calotropis gigantea

Calotropis gigantea

Latex extract

Latex

Root Bark

Flowers

Leaf extract

Candida albicans,

Saccharomyces cerevisiae,

Trichophyton

mentagrophytes, T. rubrum

Aspergillus fumigatus,

A.niger, A. flavus, Penicillium

chrysogenum

Gram positive, Gram negative

Bacteria

Sarcina lutea, Bacillus

megaterium, Pseudomonas

aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis,

Shigella sonnei, E.coli

Staphylococcus aureus,

Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia

coli, Pseudomonas vulgaris,

Candida albicans

Bacillus cereus, B.subtilis, S.

aureus, S.epidermidis,

S.subfava, Alcaligenes

fecalis, Enterobactor

aerogenes, E.coli, Klebsiella

2010,

Subrarmanian and

Saratha

2010,

Subrarmanian and

Saratha,

2008, Alam et al.

2007, Argal and

Pathak

2005, Jigna et al.

Calotropis procera

Calotropis procera

Calotropis procera

Calotropis procera

Calotropis procera

Stem, Leaves,

Flowers

Leaves

Apical twig and Latex

Leaf and Latex

Stem bark

pneumonia, Proteus vulgaris,

P. aeruginosa, P.

pseudoalcaligenes,

Salmonella typhimurium, C.

albicans

Alternaria alternata,

Aspergillus flavus, A. niger,

Bipolaris bicolor, Curvularia

lunata, Penicillium expansum,

Pseudomonas marginales,

Rhizoctonia solani, Ustilago

maydis

C. albicans, A. niger

S. aureus, S. epidermidis, B.

cereus, P. aeruginosa,

Klebsilla pneumonia, Serratia

marcescans, Enterobactor

aerogenes, Salmonella

paratyphi A, S. typhi, Bacillus

subtilis, Micrococcus luteus

and E. coli

S. aureus, S. albus,

Sterptococcus pneumonia, A.

niger, A. flavus, Microsporum

boulardii and Candida

albicans

Epidermophyton flocosuum

and Trichophyton gypseum

2009, Vadlapudi

and Naidu

2009, Suvarna

and Patil

2008,

Parabia et al.

2008,

Kareem et al.

2008, Kuta

Calotropis procera

Calotropis procera

Calotropis procera

Calotropis procera

Calotropis procera

Calotropis procera

Calotropis procera

Calotropis procera

Calotropis procera

Leaves

Leaves, Roots and

Stem Barks

Leaves and stem

Root extract

Latex

Whole Plant

Leaf and Root Bark

Leaf

Leaves

Microsporum canis and

Trichphyton rubrum

T. rubrum, Microsporum

gypseum, A.niger

Bacillus subtilis, S. aureus, E.

coli, Klebsiella pneumonia,

Salmonella typhi, C. albicans

Neisseria gonorrhaeae,

Staphylococcus aureus,

Escherichia coli

Candida albicans

Macrophomina phaseolina

S. aureus, E. coli, C.

albicans, Pseudomonas

aeruginosa, K. aerogenes,

Enterobactor aerogenes

Root knot nematode,

Meloidogyne incognita and

wilt fungus, Fusarium

oxysporium

Bacillus subtilis, E. coli,

Staphylococcus epidermidis,

Yersinia enterocolitica

2006, Kuta

2006,

Hassan et al.

2006,

Oladimeji et al.

2005,

Filgona et al.

2005,

Sehgal et al.

2002, Oluma et al.

2002, Tahir and

Chi

2002, Sharma and

Trivedi

1989

Salamah et al.

2.4. Types of activities of different plant parts of Calotropis procera of Ethanolic,

methanolic and aqueous extracts

Phytochemically, the plant has been investigated since the 1960’s, especially for

cardenolides (Grout et al.,1962, Seiber et al., 1982), triterpenoids (Saber et al., 1969,

Saxena et al., 1979), anthocyanins (Tiwari et al., 1978) and hydrocarbons

(Carruthers et al., 1984). Besides the use of plant latex, aqueous, methanolic, ethanolic and

other organic plant extracts from different parts of the plant, namely flowers, buds, roots,

stems and leaves were among the very first approaches to develop natural drugs for

classical and alternative medicine. In 1979, Malik and Chughtai described antimicrobial

activity against pathogenic bacteria. Moreover organic extracts of C. procera were also

shown to possess nematocidal (Nandal and Bhatti, 1983, Masood et al., 1980), larvicidal

(Girdhar et al., 1984), antifertility (Prakash et al., 1978) and even anti-cancer potentials

(Dhar et al., 1968, Ayoub and Kingston, 1981). In 1987, Mascolo et al., further elucidated the

biological properties of Calotropis procera and using ruminant animal models, discovered

anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial and antipyretic activities in extracts from

C. procera flowers. In the late 1980’s, Fernando et al., established a standard method to get

crude aqueous extracts (CAE) from powdered C. procera flowers. Similarly, in 1994, Asuzu

and Onu managed to get crude methanolic extracts (CME) from C. procera using a Soxhlet

apparatus. Filtered ethanolic extracts was used to elucidate the plant’s pharmacological

potential (Mishra et al., 1991, Mascolo et al., 1987). Meanwhile, the ethanolic extracts of

flowers, buds, roots, stems and leaves were discovered to have a schizontocidal potential

in vitro. The different fractions of Calotropis procera showed dose-dependent inhibitory

effects on chloroquine sensitive and resistant Plasmodium falciparum strains. Furthermore,

aqueous and methanolic extracts of powdered Calotropis procera flowers, were shown to

possess time-dependent anthelmintic activities in vitro (Iqbal et al., 2005). Besides further

insecticidal properties (Moursy, 1997), organic C. procera extracts also possess interesting

cytotoxic effects. Compared to the reference compound cisplatin (IC50 0.9g/mL), ethanolic

floss extracts (IC50 1.4 g/mL) have potent growth inhibition capacities when used on COLO

320 tumour cells. More specific spectral data analysis of organic extracts of the plant

revealed the presence of a norditerpenyl ester, calotropterpenyl, two pentacyclic

triterpenoids, calotropursenyl acetate and calotropfriedelenyl acetate as well as an organic

carbonate, namely 2-propenyl-2’- hydroxyethyl carbonate (Ansari and Ali, 2001,

Gallegos et al., 2002) (Figure 2.4.1).

Figure 2.4.1: Activities of different plant parts of Calotropis procera in various organic solvents

organic , ethanolic, methanolic and aqueous extracts from Calotropis

procera

anthelmintic

antimalarial

larvicidal

antimicrobial

nematocidal

anti-inflammatory

anti-fertile

analgesic

antipyretic

schizonticidal

cytotoxic

2.5. Contribution in the field of structural elucidation of Calotropis sp.

A perusal of literature documented that a wide variety of chemicals have been

isolated (in India and abroad) from various parts of Calotropis gigantea and Calotropis

procera. The following table outlines these different chemicals isolated from different parts.

Table 2.5.1: Chemicals isolated from various parts of Calotropis species

Plant Species/ Parts Chemical Constituents Year /References

Calotropis gigantea

Latex

Stem Bark

Root Bark

Flowers

Latex

Latex

Latex

Latex

Root

Root

Uscharin, Calotoxin, Calactin

Calotropeol acetate, β- amyrin acetate,

Giganteol acetate,

Mudarol, β- amyrin isovaleric acid

α and β- calotropeol bamyrin

Gigantin

Calotropin F I, Calotropin F II

3- methyl butanoates of α- amyrin and Ψ-

taraxasterol

Calotropin D I and Calotropin D II

Uscharidin, Uzarigenin, Calactin and

Calotropin

Lipids

1938, Hesse et al.

1945, Murti & Seshadari

1945, Murti & Seshadari

1945, Murti & Seshadari

1948, Ritchandi

1979, Abraham and Joshi

1984, Thakur et al.

1985, Bhattacharya et al.

1988, Sibaprasad and Datta

1988, Lakshminarayan et al.

Calotropis procera

Leaves and Stalk

Latex

Whole Plant

Seed

Latex

Latex

Latex

Latex

Latex

Root Bark

Leaf

Root Bark

Latex

Leaves

Leaves

Latex

Calotropin

Uscharin, Calotoxin, Calactin

Uscharine, amyrin esters, uscharidin,

Calotoxin and Calactin

Coroglaucigenin, Frugoside,

Corotoxigenin, Calotropin

Cardenolite- Voruscharine

Calotropagenin

Voruscharine

Proteolytic enzyme Calotropain

O- pyrocatechuic acid

α- amyrin, β- amyrin, Ψ- taraxasterol, β-

sitosterol, taraxasteryl acetate,

taraxasteryl benzoate, α- amyrin

benzoate, β- amyrin acetate, acetic acid

and isovaleric acid

Taraxasterol isovalerate

Benzoyllineolane, Benzoylisolineolane,

Uzarigenin, Syriogenin and Proceroside

D- glucose, D- arabinose, D- glucosamine

and α- rhamnose

α- amyrin, β- amyrin, β- sitosterol

Calotropin, Calotoxin, Uscharin,

1936, Hesse & Richander

1938, Hesse et al.

1950, Hesse et al.

1955, Rajagopalan et al.

1957, Hesse & Lettenbauer

1959, Hassall & Reyle

1960, Hesse and Ludwig

1961, Shukla & Krishnamurti

1963, Ibrahim

1968, Anjaneyulu and

Ramachandra

1968, Anjaneyulu and

Ramachandra

1968, Chandler et al.

1969, Brueschweiler et al.

1969, Qudrat-i- Khuda and

Amir

1969, Saber et al.

1971, Mahran et al.

Leaves

Leaves

Leaves, Latex

Flowers

Latex

Flowers

Latex

Root and Root Bark

Leaves and Stalk

Latex

Latex

Uscharidin and Choline

Asclepin

Calotropin and Calotropagenin

Phenolic contents

Calotropenyl actate and Procestrol

Lupecol, β- amyrin, α- and β- calotropeol

and 3- epimoretenol

Multiflorenol, Cyclosadol, Cycloart- 23-

ene- 3 β, 25-diol β- sitostenone, α- and

β-amyrin, Stigmasterol and β- sitosterol

Calotropin, Calactin, Calotoxin, Uscharin,

Uscharidin , Voruscharin, Calotropin D I

and Calotropin D II, Calotropin F I,

Calotropin F II

Taraxast-20 (30)-en-3 (4-methyl 3-

pentenoate)

α- and β-amyrin, taraxasterol, 4J-isomer,

taraxasteryl isovalerate, taraxasteryl

acetate,

β- sitosterol and quercetin-3- rutiniside

Calotropin, Calotropagenin, Cardenolides,

stigmosterol, β- sitosterol, quercetin-3-

rutinoside and triterpenoids

Uzarigenin, Syriogenin, proceroside,

Quercetin-3-rutinoside, lupeol, β-amyrin,

α- and β- calotropeols, 3- epimoretenol

and procerain

1972, Singh and Rastogi

1979, Malik et al.

1986, Marimuthu and Kothari

1988, Khan et al.

1989,Khan and Malik

1989, Pant and Chaturvedi

1990, Khan and and Malik

1993, Rastogi and Mehrotra

1993, Rastogi and Mehrotra

2001, Ansari and Ali

1929, Duke, 2002, Gallegos

et al.

2003, Kumar and

Jagannadham

2003, Shivkar and Kumar

2.6. Antifungal activity of higher plants against some dermatophytic fungi

Some reports explore the medicinal plants and their inhibitory nature against

dermatophytic fungi these are summarized in the following table:

Table 2.6.1: Activity of some medicinal plants against dermatophytes

Plant Activity against Target Microbes Year, Reference

Curcuma amada

Mentha piperata

Allivum sativum, Ocimum

sanctum, Catharanthus roseus,

Azartirachta indica

Calotropis procera

Eucalyptus sps.

Arachis hypogea, Coccos

nucifera, Olea europeae,

Pongamia pinnata, Ricinus

communis and Sesamum

indicum

Phyllanthus amarus and

Boerhavia diffusa

Microsporum gypseum,

Trichophyton mentagrophytes

Epidermophyton flocosum,

Microsporum canis and

T.mentagrophytes

T.mentagrophytes

T.mentagrophytes, T. rubrum, T.

violaceum

T.mentagrophytes

E. flocosum, M. gypseum, M.

nanum, T.mentagrophytes, T.

rubrum, T. violaceum

T.mentagrophytes, T. rubrum

M. gypseum

1982, Banerjee et al.

1987, Dube and Tripathi

1988 b, Rai and Upadhyay

1991, Iyer and Williamson

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