Antimycotic potential of Crataeva religiosa Hook and Forst against some selected fungal pathogens
Sahoo, S.; Mishra, S.K.; Panda, P.K.; Tripathy, S.; Mishra, S.R.; Ellaiah, P.; Dash, S.K.
Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica 65(2): 245-247
2008
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-6837 PMID: 18666433 Document Number: 620323
Crataeva religiosa Hook and Forst belonging to family Capparidaceae (Cappaceae) was selected based on its ethnopharmacological uses like diuretic, laxative, lithonotriptic, antirheumatic, antiperiodic, bitter tonic, rubifacient and counterirritant and was investigated to evaluate in vitro antimycotic potential of petroleum ether, chloroform, ethanolic and aqueous extracts against Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Candida krusei, Cryptococcus marinus and Aspergillus niger by disc diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of C. religiosa extracts were found in the range of 0.062 - 0.5 mg/disc. The ethanolic extract significantly inhibits the growth of selected fungal pathogens, whereas aqueous extract do not show zone of inhibition against the tested Candida species. The results indicate the possible therapeutic uses of the plant as a potent antifungal agent.