Abstract

Potential inhibitory effect of Citrus lemon (lemon) and Citrus sinensis (orange) on lipophilic, yeast like fungus Malassezia furfur which causes Pityriasis versicolor, chronic superficial fungal disease of the skin have been studied using two different methods: Disc diffusion and microdilution methods. In screening of lemon and orange oil by disc diffusion method, the diameter of inhibition zone was found to be 50 and 20 mm which were greater than inhibition zone of reference antibiotics, that is, gentamycin and streptomycin of 16.5 and 17 mm, respectively. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of lemon and orange oil against M. furfurwas found to be 0.8 and 2.2 µl/ml. These findings support the use of C. lemon (lemon) and C. sinensis (orange) oil as a traditional herbal medicine for the control of P. versicolor infection of skin.

Key words: Pityriasis versicolor, skin, Malassezia furfur, Citrus lemon and Citrus sinensis oils.