IN VITRO ACTIVITY OF ASTHMA PLANT (Euphorbia hirta Linnaeus) LEAF EXTRACT AGAINST Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Candida albicans AND Malassezia pachydermatis

Abstract

Asthma plant (Euphorbia hirta L.), commonly known as Tawa-tawa in the Philippines, is an herbal plant that has unique properties against fungi. This study aimed to determine the in vitro antifungal activity of the plant’s leaf crude aqueous and ethanolic extracts against Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Candida albicans and Malassezia pachydermatis using agar well diffusion technique. Tioconazole at 0.2 mg/ml was used as positive control. Results of the study showed a complete inhibitory effect at 100%, 75%, 50% and 25% concentrations of asthma plant leaf crude aqueous and ethanolic extracts. Crude aqueous extract has the highest mean zone of inhibition against M. pachydermatis and C. albicans at 26.67 and 17.76 mm, respectively while the crude ethanolic extract has a mean zone of inhibition against T. mentagrophytes at 20 mm; C. albicans at 19.33 mm and; M. pachydermatis at 21.67 mm. Qualitative phytochemical test results also revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, saponins and alkaloids that could be responsible for the antifungal activity of the plant leaf crude extracts against the three test organisms.