Phytochemical properties and in-vitro antifungal activity of Senna alata Linn. crude stem bark extract

Abstract

This study reports on the phytochemical properties and in-vitro antifungal activity of Senna alata Linn. crude stem bark extract on clinical test dermatophytes. The studies on the antifungal activities of crude extracts of Senna alata L. stem bark were carried out. The test was conducted on dermatophytes, which included clinical dermatophytes of the genera Trichophyton, Microsporum and Epidemophyton. These fungi are the causative agents of various types of dermotophytosis that attack various parts of the body and tend to the following conditions, Tinea capilis, Tinea cruris, Tinea corporis and Tinea pedis. The results obtained showed that the crude extract of the stem bark of Senna alata L. exhibited marked antifungal effects on Microsporum canslaslomyces, Trichophyton verrucosum,Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Epidermophyton floccosum. The crude extract showed the highest inhibition on T. verrucosum and E. floccosum with 21.00 and 20.05 mm zones of inhibition respectively. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was also performed and the result showed that the MIC of Senna alata L. crude stem bark extract on all the tested dermatophytes was 5.0 mg/mL. The result showed that the crude extract ofS. alata L stem bark was fungicidal for all tested dermatophytes at concentration of 10.00 and 5.00 mg/mL except E. floccosum which was only fungicidal at concentration of 10.00 mg/mL. The crude extract of S. alata L. stem bark screening showed vary degree of activities against all the tested dermatophytes. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of important secondary metabolites (tannins, steroids, alkaloids, anthraquinones, terpenes, carbohydrates and saponins) in the plant thus indicating the therapeutic potentials of the plant. It is concluded that S. alata L. stem bark could be a potential source of active antimicrobial agents, and a detailed assessment of its in vivo potencies and toxicological profile is therefore advocated. Key words: Antifungal activity, crude extract, dermatophytes, phytochemicals, Senna alataL., stem bark, MIC.