Abstract
The leaves of Dorstenia mannii are used in traditional medicine in Cameroon and other African countries for the treatment of infectious diseases like malaria, skin rashes and stomach disorders. To substantiate this folkloric claim, the crude methanol extract and fractions from the leaves of D. mannii were investigated for their antifungal activity. The crude methanol extract was prepared from powdered dried leaves of the D. mannii. A portion was subjected to flash liquid chromatography on silica gel to afford test fractions. All test samples were screened for major groups of phytochemicals.Test samples and nystatin (reference) were evaluated for antifungal activity on ten yeasts using agar disc diffusion and broth microdilution methods. The qualitative analysis of crude methanol extract and fractions of D. mannii leaves revealed the presence of flavonoids, phenols, steroids and cardiac glycosides. In agar disc diffusion assay, seven of the ten pathogenic fungal strains were sensitive to the crude methanol extract (7/10), n-hexane ethyl-acetate (Hex-EA) (75%) (8/10) and ethyl-acetate (100%) (8/10). The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for the test samples varied from 80 to 1280 µg/ml. The crude extract and ethyl-acetate (100%) were the most active plant samples with both fungistatic and fungicidal effects (MIC/MFC values from 80 to 640 µg/ml) though not as the reference drug. Candida tropicalis was the least sensitive to the test samples. Some fractions exerted no fungicidal actions on Cryptococcus neoformans, Candida lusitaniae and Candida tropicalis. The present work shows that the crude methanol extract and fractions (n-hexane, ethyl acetate and residue) from the leaves of D. mannii possess growth inhibitory effect on pathogenic yeast. The active ingredients of this plant could be an addition to the antifungal arsenal to opportunistic fungal yeast pathogens. Key words: Antifungal activity, Dorstenia mannii, yeasts, opportunistic candidiasis.
Highlights
Nowadays, fungal diseases have emerged and are being increasingly recognized as important public health problems owing to an ever-expanding population of immuno-compromised patients (Miceli et al, 2011).Fungal infections are usually associated with Candida, Aspergillus and Cryptococcus species but those due to Candida species represent the main opportunistic fungal infections worldwide, leading to high morbidity andAgem et al 63 mortality in the population (Low and Rotstein, 2011)
In agar disc diffusion assay, seven of the ten pathogenic fungal strains were sensitive to the crude methanol extract (7/10), n-hexane ethyl-acetate (Hex-EA) (75%) (8/10) and ethyl-acetate (100%) (8/10)
Seven of the ten pathogenic fungal strains were sensitive to the crude methanol extract (7/10), Hex-EA (75%) (8/10), EA (100%) (8/10) as indicated with a plus sign “+”
Summary
Agem et al 63 mortality in the population (Low and Rotstein, 2011). These changes are linked to the growing population of immuno-compromised patients. During the last three decades, Candida albicans has been the most prevalent pathogen in systemic fungal infections (Pfaller and Diekema, 2004). Non albicans species of Candida account for more than 50% of fungal infections. Antifungal active principles are diverse and numerous, but few classes of them are currently available against yeast infections because many are toxic (Spampinato and Leonardi, 2013). The high morbidity and mortality rates associated with opportunistic yeast infections indicate that current antifungal therapy to combat candidiasis is still ineffective. Among the potential sources of new agents, plants have long been investigated because they contain many bioactive compounds that can be of interest in therapy
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
