Anti-Dermatophytic Activity of Garlic (Allium sativum) Extracts on some Dermatophytic Fungi

Dermatophytic infection is a common infection that constitutes public health problem among children. Anti dermatophytic activity of aqueous, ethanolic and methanolic extracts of garlic (Allium sativum) was investigated against isolates of dermatophytic fungi obtained from sixty primary school children in Aba. The well in agar diffusion technique was used to determine the sensitivity patterns of the test organisms. The results were compared with the activity of a known antifungal drug nystatin. The isolates included Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum, Microsporum gypseum, Trichophyton verrucosum and Epidermophyton floccosum. The result of the antifungal activity of garlic showed high but varied levels of antifungal effectiveness on the different species of the dermatophytes at four different concentrations of 12.5 %, 25 %, 50 % and 100 % used. T. rubrum was the most susceptible followed by M. gypseum, T. mentagrophytes, T. verrucosum and E. floccosum respectivey. The diameter zones of inhibition exhibited by the extracts against test fungal species ranged between 4.50 mm and 30.67 mm. Further purification and extraction of active principle of garlic would give an antidermatophytic activity comparable to standard antifungal drugs