Abstract
The antifungal profiles of the bark of Vitellaria paradoxa were examined against clinical isolates of Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum audouinii and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Decoction method was used for the extraction of the active substances from the plant bark with cold and hot water and ethanol as extraction solvents. Agar dilution method was used in the antifungal susceptibility studies while the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC, mg/ml) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC, mg/ml) of the ethanolic extract were determined. Generally, the ethanolic extract was the most effective, followed by the hot aqueous extract. The cold aqueous extract was the least effective against all the test fungi. All the extracts exhibited greater antifungal activity against the dermatophytes than the Aspergillus sp. Growth of T. mentagrophytes was completely inhibited by both the hot aqueous and ethanolic extracts. The similarity between the low values of the MIC and MFC obtained revealed that the plant bark possesses potent fungicidal components against the test isolates. The rate of kill study showed that with 200mg/ml of the ethanolic extract, 106 spores/ml of the Aspergillus sp. were reduced by over 50% while spores of T. . mentagrophytes were completely killed after 60 minutes contact time. This study therefore suggests that the bark of V. paradoxa could contain high concentrations of biocidal substances against the dermatophytes.
Recommended Citation
Ahmed, R. N.; Sani, A.; and Igunnugbemi, O. O.
(2009)
"Antifungal Profiles of Extracts of Vitellaria paradoxa (Shea-Butter) Bark,"
Ethnobotanical Leaflets: Vol. 2009:
Iss.
6, Article 2.
Available at:
https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/ebl/vol2009/iss6/2