Abstract

The efficacy of ethanol and distilled water extracts of Azadirachta indica,Jatropha curcas, Jatropha gossypifolia, Cassia alata, Anacardium occidentaleand Aloe vera was determined against Trichophyton mentagrophytes andTrichophyton rubrum isolated from the skin of ringworm-infected patients. Highest antifungal activity was obtained from ethanol extracts where complete inhibition of T. rubrum was observed in all the extracts at 2, 5 and 10 mgl^-1, whilepartial growth of T. mentagrophytes was observed on J. curcas, A. vera and C. alata extracts. The water extracts of A. vera, followed by A. occidentale had the highest activity on T. mentagrophytes at 2 mgl^-1, while those of C. alata, A. veraand J. curcas were effective at 5 mgl^-1. At 10 mgl^-1, extracts of A. vera, A. occidentale and J. gossypifolia appeared best on T. mentagrophytes. Also, extracts of C. alata, A. vera and J. curcas performed well on T. rubrum at 2 mgl^-1, while those of J. gossypifolia, C. alata and A. vera were effective at 5 mgl^-1. At 10 mgl^-1, water extracts of J. gossypifolia, C. alata and A. vera appeared best.A. vera, C. alata, J. gossypifolia and A. occidentale compared favourably with mycoten, therefore they can be used as an alternative for treating ringworm infections on man caused by Trichophyton species.

Key words: Medicinal plants, antifungal, Trichophyton mentagrophytes,Trichophyton rubrum, ringworm.