Comparison of Antifungal Activity of Extracts of Ten Plant Species and Griseofulvin Against Human Pathogenic Dermatophytes

Background:: This study was conducted to measure the antifungal activity of the extracts of 10 plant species used in traditional Iranian medicine against human pathogenic dermatophytes. Materials and Methods:: In this experimental study, the leaves of these plants (Calendula officinalis, Acacia arabica, Altheae officinalis, Ginkgo biloba, Juglans regia, Osimum basilicum, Solanum nigrum, Hypericum perforatum, Urtica dioica, and Anagalis arvensis) were taken and extractions were made in methanol and were tested against Microsporum canis, Microsporum gypseum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton schoenleinii, and Epidermophyton floccosum. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using broth macrodilution method. The effects of plants extracts were compared with those of griseofulvin. Results:: Plants under review showed antifungal activity against all the dermatophytes tested with MIC values ranging from 0.001 to 0.016 mg/mL using inhibitory zone estimation, 0.3 to 12.8 mg/mL using agar dilution method and 0.2 to 12.5 mg/mL using broth dilution method. The minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of the extracts ranged from 0.8 to 15.62 mg/mL. Conclusions:: The results obtained suggested that H. perforatum, A. arvensis, and A. arabica have anti-dermatophyte activity.