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Eugenia caryophyllus (commonly known as clove) belonging to the family Myrtaceae is an important medicinal plant. For present study clove flowering buds were used for oil extraction procedure. Oil was extracted through hydrodistillation method using Clevenger's apparatus. Eugenol was found as major constituent of oil. Clove oil was screened for their antidermatophytic properties against selected dermatophytes through disc diffusion technique and by minimum inhibitory concentration determinations. The results of experiments revealed moderate to high level antidermatophytic activities against tested microorganisms. Maximum zone of inhibition 63.83±0.166 mm was reported against Microsporum gypseum. Maximum activity index (AI = 3.36) was reported against M. canis (IZ=47 mm). Candida albicans was found to be the most resistant pathogen while Trichophyton rubrum was found to be most susceptible one. Oil was further subjected in Buchii's glass oven equipment for fractional separation. Three fractions were obtained at different temperature interval and labeled as CLI- CLIII. Maximum antidermatophytic potential was observed in case of CLI due to higher concentration of eugenol. MIC were ranged from 0.025 µl/ml to 0.1 µl/ml. Present study concluded that essential oil of Eugenia caryophyllus oil possesses strong antidermatophytic properties.
Key words: Dermatophytes, Essential oil, MIC, Trichophyton, Microsporum
INTRODUCTION
Essential oils are odorous principal found in various parts of plants. In recent years uses of these compounds increase in wide variety of purposes, including aroma therapeutics and alternative natural medicines (Chee & Lee, 2007). These are extensively used in the pharmaceutical industries because of their diuretic, antiseptic, carminative, stomachic, expectorant, sedative, skin simulative properties. During the past years, a number of studies have been carried out concerning the application of essential oils as antimicrobial agents (Safaei-Ghomi & Atefeh Abbasi, 2010; Jain & Sharma, 2016; Jain & Sharma, 2017a,b; Jain etal., 2018; Verica Aleksic Sabo & Petar Knezevic, 2019). The maximum clinically used antifungals have many drawbacks in terms of toxicity, efficacy and cost, and their frequent use has led to the emergence of resistant strains. Hence, there is a great demand for novel antimicrobial drugs agents, justifying the intense search for new drugs that are more effective and less toxic than those already in use.
Eugenia caryophyllus commonly known as clove belonging to family Myrtaceae is an important spice plant. It's essential oil is used in perfumes,...