Invitro Evaluation of a Herbal Soap Formulation as an Antifungal Agent

Abstract

During the past few decades, there is a rise in the resistance of bacterial and fungal pathogens. In this accord, lot of research is being carried out and many studies are focused on the use of plant extracts as fungicides. There is archaeological evidence that the betel leaves have been chewed since very ancient times, for its activity towards bacteria and fungi. Hydroxychavicol, a phenolic substance isolated as an aqueous extract from Piper betle leaves showed inhibitory activity against fungal pathogens including molds like Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium spp. and dermatophyte fungi Trichophyton rubrum, Microsporum gypseum and Microsporum canis. The minimum inhibitory concentration varied from 60μg/ml–120μg/ml. The phenolic substance is known to inhibit spore germination and mycelia growth. Light Microscopic studies suggest that hydroxychavicol treated mycelium undergoes plasmolysis leading to its death. An herbal soap formulation containing hydroxychavicol and two other substances was found to be effective against the tested fungi. Hydroxychavicol could be a potential therapeutic agent if suitably formulated.

Keywords: Antifungal activity, hydroxychavicol, herbal soap