Abstract
In this study, 36 extracts derived from 29 plant species selected using an ethnobotanical approach were tested for antifungal activity against a taxonomically diverse group of 13 human pathogenic fungi. We compared the inhibitory characteristics of these plant extracts with those of the commonly used antifungals, amphotericin B and ketoconazole, and the plant-derived antifungal, berberine. Several plant extracts, notably those from Zingiber officinale (ginger) and Juglans cinerea (butternut), had pronounced antifungal activity against a wide variety of fungi, including strains that were highly resistant to amphotericin B and ketoconazole. Further exploration of Z. officinale as an antifungal is warranted as this species is generally regarded as safe for human consumption.
Highlights
During the past decade there has been an increase in the number of patients with alterations in immune status associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), cancer chemotherapy and organ and bone marrow transplantations
This study identifies plant extracts with significant antifungal activities that are appropriate for further study and development as antifungal phytomedicines
A taxonomically diverse group of human pathogenic fungi were tested to determine their susceptibilities to amphotericin B and ketoconazole, from which 13 strains were selected for use in the plant extract assays
Summary
During the past decade there has been an increase in the number of patients with alterations in immune status associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), cancer chemotherapy and organ and bone marrow transplantations. The widespread use of these antifungals has led to the emergence of drug resistance in several common pathogenic fungi.[4,5] In addition, fungi that were previously regarded as saprobes are occurring on human hosts, with some of these fungal strains having an innate resistance to the presently available antifungal drugs.[1,6,7,8]. Due to this emergence of antibiotic resistant human pathogenic fungi, it is of great importance to develop new antifungal agents. An analysis of published literature using the NAPALERT database (obtained from the University of Illinois) revealed that, the traditional uses of most of the plant species used in this study are well documented, few have been tested for antifungal activity against a broad range of fungi
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