Anti-dermatophytic activity of some traditionally used medicinal plants of North Karnataka Region

To find the potentiality of the following medicinal plants for their anti dermatophytic property. Agar and broth dilution methods, Leaf extracts of Cassia occidentalis, Cassia tora, Lawsonia inermis, Xanthium strumarium and Caesalpinia bonducella with various solvents viz., methanol, alcohol, acetone, acetone, petroleum ether, chloroform and ethyl acetate were evaluated for antidermatophytic activity against human pathogenic fungi. In agar and broth dilution methods, all extracts showed antifungal activity even at minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFCs). The most biologically active extract was found to be ethyl acetate leaf extract of C. bonducella, which inhibited all test fungi with time and dose dependent activity. This plant extract retarded the growth of all the organisms at 10000 µg/ml up to 30 days and beyond. It is further suggested for detail investigation of active constituents of the plants used in the present.