Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research

  • Abbreviation: J. Med. Plants Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0875
  • DOI: 10.5897/JMPR
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 3813

Full Length Research Paper

Additive and inhibitory effect of antifungal activity of Curcuma longa (Turmeric) and Zingiber officinale (Ginger) essential oils against Pityriasis versicolor infections

Richa Sharma1*, Gajanand Sharma2 and Meenakshi Sharma3
1Lab No-1, Laboratory of Mycology and Microbiology, Department of Botany, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, India. 2Department of Chemical Sciences, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jagatpura, Jaipur, India. 3Lab No-1, Laboratory of Mycology and Microbiology, Department of Botany, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, India.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 04 November 2011
  •  Published: 30 December 2011

Abstract

The antifungal potential of Curcuma longa (turmeric) and Zingiber officinale (ginger) essential oils alone and in combinations, against common causes of Pityriasis versicolor infections in humans was investigated via in vitro investigations, in order to determine a suitable dosage for use in clinical trials. The antifungal activity of oils was screened against Malassezia furfurby using disc diffusion method and microdilution method. Turmeric oil showed strong antifungal activity (55 mm, MIC 0.1 µl/ml) while ginger oil had good antifungal activity (37.5 mm, 0.03 µl/ml) and their mixture showed excellent antifungal activity (65 mm, MIC 0.02 µl/ml) against M. furfur. The inhibition zone of mixture of oils (turmeric and ginger) is higher than single oils and reference antibiotics. Gentamycin and Streptomycin showed inhibition zone of 16.5 and 17 mm against M. furfur. From our findings, the results provide a scientific validation for the use of these essential oils in the treatment of dermatophytic infections and could be used in future for the development of anti-skin disease agents.

 

Key words: Pityriasis versicolorCurcuma longa and Zingiber officinale oils.