Antifungal Effect Of Senna Alata On Tinea Capitis And Tinea Corporis :- Chinekwe, Amarachi

ABSTRACT

The antifungal activities of Senna alata was investigated against four species of dermatophytes namely Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophyte, Trichophyton tonsurans and Microsporum canis from scrapings of children with Tinea capitis and tinea corporis using the radial growth method which showed a marked antiungal effect on the dermatophytes. The Methanolic extract showed concentration dependent antifungal activity against the dermotophytes. The radial hyphal growth of Trichophyton tonsurans was the most inhibited with 6mm growth at 2mg/ml. At 10mg/ml, the radial hyphal growth was reduced to 1mm, representing 90% reduction in radial growth. At 10mg/ml, there was a total inhibition of radial growth of M. canis. The water extract showed higher antifungal activities against dermatophytes, causing inhibition of radial growth of 4mm against T. mentagrophyte at 2mg/ml and complete inhibition at 10mg/ml. The results of this study suggest that senna alata has antifungal activities against the agents of Tinea capitis and Tinea corporis.