Evaluation of andrographis paniculata (hempedu bumi) extract formulation as an antifungal agent against superficial mycoses
Superficial mycoses are commonly encountered fungal infections, which often present as skin lesion, itchiness, nail damage and hair loss. Although a number of antifungal agents are available at present, development of new classes of antifungal agents is limited. The increasing need for antifungal...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2018
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://eprints.usm.my/56489/1/Dr.%20Tuan%20Noorkorina-24%20pages.pdf |
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| Summary: | Superficial mycoses are commonly encountered fungal infections, which
often present as skin lesion, itchiness, nail damage and hair loss. Although a number
of antifungal agents are available at present, development of new classes of
antifungal agents is limited. The increasing need for antifungal therapy and the
emergence of antifungal resistance warranted the need for discovery of novel
antifungal agents. Andrographis paniculata (AP), an ancient medicinal herb, is
claimed to possess various pharmacological activities including antimicrobial
activities. Therefore, the present study was embarked to evaluate the antifungal effect
of AP extract and its formulations against selected fungal pathogens causing
superficial mycoses. In the initial part of the study methanol, ethanol and aqueous
extracts of AP, were tested for their effects on the growth of Trichophyton
mentagrophyte, T. rubrum, T. interdigitale, Microsporum fulvum, M. nanum, M.
gypseum, M. canis, Fusarium solani and Aspergillus fumigatus using disc diffusion
and food poisoning method on potato dextrose agar. The extract which exhibited the
best antifungal effect was formulated into cream and gel. The toxicity effects of AP
extract were evaluated using mouse skin fibroblast cell lines (L929), brine shrimp
and New Zealand White Rabbit. The stability of the gel and cream formulations were
also evaluated. In an animal study, superficial fungal infection in a Sprague-Dawley
rat model was established and the in vivo antifungal and wound healing effects of AP
formulations against T. mentagrophyte, T. rubrum, T. interdigitale, M. gypseum and M. canis infections was examined. The chemical compounds of AP extract were also
identified using phytochemical screening, HPLC and ATR-FTIR methods. AP crude
extract showed activity against T. mentagrophyte, T. rubrum, T. interdigitale, M.
fulvum, M. nanum, M. gypseum, and M. canis. Ethanol extracts of AP in gel
formulation showed the best antifungal activity. The stability evaluation of the gel
and cream formulations demonstrated the superiority of AP gel formulation. The
toxicity evaluation demonstrated adequate safety of all forms of AP tested. The
results of in vivo antifungal effect showed significant antifungal effects (p<0.01) in
AP ethanol extract gel compared to negative control (untreated), in terms of the
percentage of wound healing, wound size reduction and wound conditions scoring.
Histopathological examination of the wound sections using haematoxylin-eosin
(H&E) and Grocott-Gomori’s Methanamine Silver (GMS) staining showed
eradication of fungal elements following AP ethanol extract gel treatment compared
to untreated control. The chemical evaluation of AP extracts revealed the presence
of andrographolide and neo-andrographolide content in methanol and ethanol extract,
while ethanol extract showed the presence of saponins, flavonoids and tannins. AP
has pronounced antifungal activity based on the demonstration of its effects in both
in vitro and in vivo studies. Therefore, the findings in this study have provided the
evidence for potential use of AP as a novel antifungal agent for superficial mycoses.
Further laboratory and clinical studies are needed to ascertain the use of new AP
formulation as an alternative treatment for superficial mycoses. |
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