IN VITRO ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF Ixora brachita ROXB AGAINST DERMATOPHTES

Mycotic infections are probably the most common cause of skin disease in developing countries of tropical regions. Dermatophytosis is the most frequent superficial fungal infection in tropical and subtropical countries. The drugs used against dermatophytosis and exhibit several side effects and have limited efficacy. So that there is a distinct need for the discovery of new safer and more effective antifungal agents. The use of medicinal herbs in the treatment of skin diseases including mycotic infections is an age-old practice in many parts of the world. Because herbal remedies used in traditional folk medicine may help to overcome the growing problem of resistance to antifungal drugs and their relative toxicity. In this study, the in vitro antifungal activity of Ixora brachiata Roxb. leaves and root extract were evaluated against three different genera of dermatophytes viz. Microsporum, Trichophyton and Epidermophyton by Agar Dilution Method. Ixora brachiata belongs to family Rubiaceae. It is small tree 15-30 ft. high, found to be growing in high rainfall locality. The extracts inhibited the growth of the dermatophytes tested at different concentrations. The most biologically active was the ethanolic extract from the root which inhibited 14 isolates (100%) at a concentration of 125μgml-1. The MFC values of these compounds were between 500-1000μgml-l.