Skip to main content

Antifungal Properties of Crude Extracts of Five Egyptian Medicinal Plants Against Dermatophytes and Emerging Fungi

Mycopathologia volume 172, pages 37–46 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

Antifungal properties of the crude extracts of five medicinal plants (Artemisia judaica, Ballota undulate, Cleome amblyocarpa, Peganum harmala, and Teucrium polium) were tested against dermatophytes and emerging fungi. Ethanol extract of Ballota undulate was the most effective against all tested fungi. Paecilomyces lilacinus, P. variotii, and Candida albicans were the most sensitive organisms. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Ballota undulate ethanol extract against C. albicans, P. lilacinus, and P. variotii was 25 mg/ml. GC–MS analysis revealed that Ballota undulate ethanol extract contains 35 aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, sesquiterpene hydrocarbon along with some other essential oils, which could be involved in antifungal activity. Light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) have proved that Ballota undulate ethanol extract exhibits fungicidal effect on P. lilacinus through alterations in hyphal structures including budding of hyphal tip, anomalous structure, such as swelling, decrease in cytoplasmic content, with clear separation of cytoplasm from cell wall in hyphae. SEM clearly showed distorted mycelium, squashed and flattened conidiophores bearing damaged metullae. Eventually, the mycelia became papillated, flattened, and empty. Puncturing and squashing of hyphae as well as complete cell wall disruption were clear signs of complete death of hyphae.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price includes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

References

  1. Ali-Shtayeh MS, Abu Ghdeib SI. Antifungal activity of plant extracts against dermatophytes. Mycoses. 1999;42:665–72.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Barry AL, Thornsberry C. Susceptibility test: diffusion test procedures. In: Balows A, Hausler WJ, Herramann KL, Isenberg HD, Shadomy HJ, editors. Manual of Clinical Microbiology. Washington, DC: American Society for Microbiology; 1991. p. 1526–42.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Brinker F. Larrea tridentata (D.C.) Coville (Chaparral or Creosote Bush). Br J Phytother. 1993;3:10.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Buwa LV, van Staden J. Antibacterial and antifungal activity of traditional medicinal plants used against venereal diseases in South Africa. J Ethnopharmacol. 2006;103:139–42.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Cakir A, Kordali S, Zengin H, Izumi S, Hirata T. Composition and antifungal activity of essential oils isolated from Hypericum hyssopifolium and Hypericum heterophyllum. Flavour Fragrance J. 2004;19:62–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Chitwood DJ. Phytochemical based strategies for nematode control. Annu Rev Phytopathol. 2002;40:221–49.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. de Billerbeck VG, Roques CG, Bessiere JM, Fonvieille JL, Dargent R. Effects of Cymbopogon nardus (L.) W. Watson essential oil on the growth and morphogenesis of Aspergillus niger. Can J Microbiol. 2001;47:9–17.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Deba F, Xuan TD, Yasuda M, Tawata S. Chemical composition and antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal activities of the essential oils from Biden pilosa Linn. var. Radiata. Food Control. 2008;19:346–52.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Fishman JA, Rubin RH. Infection in organ transplant recipients. N Engl J Med. 1998;338:1741.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Fleming RV, Walsh TJ, Anaissie EJ. Emerging and less common fungal pathogens. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2002;16:915–33.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Freixa B, Vila R, Vargas L, Lozano N, Adzet T, Cañigueral S. Screening for antifungal activity of nineteen Latin American plants. Phytother Res. 1998;12:427–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Garbino J, Kolarova L, Lew D, Hirschel B, Rohner P. Fungemia in HIV-infected patients: a 12-year study in a tertiary care hospital. AIDS Patient Care STDs. 2001;15:407–10.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Helander IM, Alakomi HL, Latva-Kala K, Mattiala-Sandholm T, Pol I, Smid EJ, Gorris LGM, von Wright A. Characterization of the action of selected essential oils components on Gram-negative bacteria. J Agric Food Chem. 1998;46:3590–5.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Ismail H, Lemriss S, Ben Aoun Z, Mhadhebi L, Dellai A, Kacem Y, Boiron P, Bouraoui A. Antifungal activity of aqueous and methanolic extracts from the Mediterranean sea cucumber, Holothuria polii. J Mycol Méd. 2008;18:23–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Itin PH, Frei R, Lautenschlager S, Buechner SA, Surber C, Gratwohl A, Widmer AF. Cutaneous manifestations of Paecilomyces lilacinus infection induced by a contaminated skin lotion in patients who are severely immunosuppressed. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1998;39(3):401–9.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Jones NP, Arnason JT, Abou-Zaid M, Akpagana K, Sanchez-Vinda P, Smith ML. Antifungal activity of extracts from medicinal plants used by First Nations Peoples of eastern Canada. J Ethnopharmacol. 2000;73:191–8.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Kariba RM, Siboe GM, Dossaji SF. In vitro antifungal activity of Schizozygia coffaeoides Bail. (Apocynaceae) extracts. J Ethnopharmacol. 2001;74:41–4.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Mares D, Tosi B, Poli F, Andreotti E, Romagnoli C. Antifungal activity of Tagetus patula extracts on some phytopathogenic fungi: ultrastructural evidence on Pythium ultimum. Microbiol Res. 2004;159:295–304.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Masika PJ, Afolayan AJ. Antimicrobial activity of some plants used for the treatment of livestock disease in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. J Ethnopharmacol. 2002;83:129–34.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Masoko P, Picard J, Eloff JN. Antifungal activities of six South African Terminalia species (Combretaceae). J Ethnopharmacol. 2005;99:301–8.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. McGaw LJ, Rabe T, Sparg SG, Jäger AK, Eloff JN, Van Staden J. An investigation on the biological activity of Combretum species. J Ethnopharmacol. 2001;75:43–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Motsei ML, Lindsey KL, van Staden J, Jager AK. Screening of traditionally used South African plants for antifungal activity against Candida albicans. J Ethnopharmacol. 2003;86:235–41.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Rabe T, Van Staden J. Antibacterial activity of South African plants used for medicinal purposes. J Ethnopharmacol. 1997;56:81–7.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Ríos JL, Recio MC. Medicinal plants and antimicrobial activity. J Ethnopharmacol. 2005;100:80–4.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Sharma N, Tripathi A. Effects of Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck epicarp essential oil on growth and morphogenesis of Aspergillus niger (L.) Van Tieghem. Microbiol Res. 2008;163:337–44.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Ulubelen A, Topcu G, Eris C, Sönmez U, Kartal M, Kurucu S, Bozok-Johansson C. Terpenoids from Salvia sclarea. Phytochemistry. 1994;36:971–4.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Webster D, Taschereau P, Belland RJ, Sand C, Rennie RP. Antifungal activity of medicinal plant extracts; preliminary screening studies. J Ethnopharmacol. 2008;115:140–6.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Winston DJ, Emmanouilides C, Busuttil RW. Infection in liver transplant recipients. Clin Infect Dis. 1995;21:1077.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The author thanks Prof. Dr. A.M. Moharram, Assiut University, Faculty of science Botany department for his great assistance in taking the light microscope photos and providing the fungal cultures and Dr. N.M. Sayed, Assiut University, Faculty of science, Botany department for the identification of the plant species.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Mohamed Hashem

    Present address: Biological Science Department, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 10255, Abha, 61321, Saudi Arabia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut, 71516, Egypt

    Mohamed Hashem

Authors
  1. Mohamed Hashem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohamed Hashem.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hashem, M. Antifungal Properties of Crude Extracts of Five Egyptian Medicinal Plants Against Dermatophytes and Emerging Fungi. Mycopathologia 172, 37–46 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-010-9390-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-010-9390-6

Keywords

  • Antifungal
  • Ballota undulate
  • Dermatophytes
  • Emerging fungi
  • Paecilomyces lilacinus
  • SEM
  • GC–MS