Abstract

Dermatophytes are fungal infections which affect the nails, hair, and skin. They are of three major genera, which are Trichophyton, Epidemophyton and Microsporium. Dermatophyte is a pandemic; as it occurs throughout the world. This study determined the individual and synergistic effects of Ficus exasparata and Syzygium aromaticum extracts on both dermatophytes and non-dermatophytes. Upon isolation and culturing following conventional microbiological procedures, ten (10) fungal organisms were identified namely; Mucor pusillus, Candida guilliermondii, Trichophyton rubrum, Epidermophyton floccosum, Trichophyton schoenleinii, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium avenaceum, Absidia corymbifera and Trichophyton verrucosum. The antifungal susceptibility test of the extracts was carried out using the agar well diffusion method, while the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was evaluated using tube dilution method. The antifungal effects of Ficus exasparata extract was more effective agaisnt Trichophyton schoenleiniiat 50 mg/ml compared to the other fungi with a zone of inhibition of 25.0mm while the antifungal effect of Syzygium aromaticum extracts (ethanol, methanol and N-hexane) was more effective against Candida guilliermondii, Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton rubrum, with inhibition zones of 35.0 mm, 40.0 mm and 24.0 mm respectively. The combined aqueous extracts of F. exaperata and ethanol extract of S. aromaticum had a zone of inhibition of 25.0 mm against Aspergillus fumigatus. The synergized methanol extract of F. exaperata and S. aromaticum had a high zone of inhibition of 21.0 mm against both Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida guilliermondi, while the synergized N-hexane extract had the highest zone of inhibition of 25.0 mm against Candida guilliermondi. The synergized ethanol extract of F. exasperata and methanol extract of S.aromaticum had the highest zone of inhibition (20.0 mm) against Trichophyton verrucosum. The synergistic effect of F. exaseprata and S. aromaticum extract has proved to be more potent compared to their individual extracts on dermatophytic infections. Further investigation on the antimicrobial effectiveness of Ficus exasperata and Syzygium aromaticum against fungal infections is recommended.

Keywords

sandpaper, clove, synergistic, dermatophytes, extract