Abstract

The in vitro antifungal activity of Ixora brachiata Roxb. leaf and root extracts were evaluated against three different genera of dermatophytes viz. Microsporum,Trichophyton and Epidermophyton by Dilution Agar Method. The crude extracts ofIxora brachiata root and leaf showed in-vitro antifungal properties and completely prevented the growth of tested dermatophytic species with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of I.  brachiata leaf (IBL) and I.  brachiata root (IBR) between 5.0 - 10 and 2.5 - 10 mg ml^-1 medium, respectively. Minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) values of I. brachiata leaf (IBL) and I.  brachiata root (IBR) was also similar to 5.0 and 2.5 mg ml^-1 of the medium, respectively. Results of phytochemical screening indicated that the leaf and root of I. brachiata gave positive test for starch, saponins, reducing sugars, anthraquinones, glycosides, phenols and proteins while they gave negative test for alkaloids. IBL gave positive test for tannins while IBR gave positive test for flavonoids. Detection of coumarins and triterpenes in IBL suggested that these compounds might be responsible for the anti-dermatophytic activity in this study.

Key words: Antidermatophytic activity, Ixora brachiata Roxb