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Inhibitory effect of extracts of latex
of Calotropis procera against Candida albicans: A preliminary study
Sehgal R, Arya S, Kumar VL
Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of
Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi- 110 029, India
Correspondence Address:
Kumar V L
Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari
Nagar, New Delhi- 110 029
India
kumarvl98@hotmail.com
How to cite this article:
Sehgal R, Arya S, Kumar VL. Inhibitory effect of extracts of latex of
Calotropis procera against Candida albicans: A preliminary study. Indian
J Pharmacol 2005;37:334-335 |
Nosocomial fungal infections due to Candida species are an important
cause of morbidity and mortality especially in immunocompromised patients. The
use of available treatment options for invasive mycoses is limited due to
limited spectrum of activity, drug resistance, toxicity and drug-drug
interactions.[1],[2]
In view of this, there is a need to develop more effective and less toxic agents
for the treatment of common, as well as drug resistant fungal infections.
The latex of the plant, Calotropis procera has been reported to possess in
vitro larvicidal and anthelmintic activities. Different parts of the plant
also exhibit antimicrobial and cytostatic properties.[3]
In the present study the activities of different extracts prepared from the
latex of Calotropis procera have been evaluated against Candida
albicans .
The latex collected from the aerial parts of the plant was dried (DL), soxhlated
successively with petroleum ether (PE), methanol and water and dried under
vacuum and dissolved in sterile water (methanol and aqueous extract) and 0.05%
Tween-20 (PE extract). The standard antifungal drugs with low, moderate and high
efficacy against C. albicans namely, griseofulvin, clotrimazole and
nystatin were dissolved in 1% di-methylsulfoxide. The anti-candidial activity of
these extracts was tested by the Cup-plate method using Potato Dextrose Agar as
growth medium.[4] A previously
liquefied medium was inoculated with Candida albicans suspension (100:1)
at 35-40 °C and 25 ml of this inoculated medium was dispensed into 8.5 cm Petri
plates. After complete solidification, holes were made aseptically with a 6 mm
sterile cork borer and 0.1 ml of the test solution as well as standard drugs
were poured in it. The plates were incubated at 25-27 °C for 72 h and the zone
of inhibition was measured. The activity of the extracts was compared with
respective solvents and standard antifungal drugs such as griseofulvin,
clotrimazole and nystatin. The activity index was expressed as the ratio of zone
of inhibition obtained with test drug and clotrimazole, a widely used
anticandidal drug. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extracts
was determined following incubation for 48 h.[5]
The values are given as mean±SEM and P<0.05 was considered statistically
significant. The data were analysed by one-way ANOVA followed by post hoc
test (LSD) using SPSS (Version 10).
Both petroleum ether and methanol extracts produced significant increase in the
zone of inhibition compared to griseofulvin that was found to be ineffective.
The activity index of these extracts ranged from 0.72 to 0.77 against 0.31 to
0.39 in case of griseofulvin. The inhibitory effect of these extracts was
comparable to clotrimazole. The zone of inhibition at 20 mg/ml concentration was
18.18±1.62, 17.51±0.69 and 23.86 ± 2.70 mm with petroleum ether extract,
methanol extract and clotrimazole, respectively. The aqueous extract was
ineffective in this regard. Nystatin was found to be more effective against Candida
albicans with an activity index ranging from 1.16 to 1.29 and a zone of
inhibition of 30.86 ± 1.37 mm at 20 mg/ml concentration. The respective solvent
controls did not show any anticandidal activity. Further, the MIC of petroleum
ether and methanol extract was found to be 128 µg/ml and that of aqueous
extract was 1600 µg/ml. The MIC of nystatin, clotrimazole and griseofulvin was
1, 2 and 800 µg/ml, respectively. [Table
- 1]
Our study is the first of its kind that demonstrated the anticandidial activity
of the extracts of DL of Calotropis procera . Such a property could be
related to the presence of enzymes and stable cysteine proteases in the latex.[6]
Further, the anticandidial activity of latex suggests that it might be effective
against other fungal strains as well.
| » Acknowledgments |
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We are thankful to Mr. Vijay Arora and Dr. R.A. Singh of Arbro Pharmaceuticals
for their help in conducting the study.
| » References |
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Kumar VL, Arya S. Medicinal uses and pharmacological properties of Calotropis
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The Pharmacopoeia of India. 4th Ed. Vol. 2. New Delhi. The Controller
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Alade PI, Irobi ON. Antimicrobial activities of crude leaf extract of Acalypha
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Kumar Dubey V, Jagannadham MV. Procerain, a stable cysteine protease
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