Antifungal Activities of bark extract of Calotropis procera (Ait.) R.Br. (Asclepiadaceae)

Abstract

The present, manuscript deals with the antifungal activities of bark extract of Calotropis procera (Ait.) R.Br. a significant member of family Asclepiadaceae. The plant is glabrous herb or shrub with lower woody portion having erect, solid, branched and cylindrical stem with white latex. The leaves are simple, opposite, cauline, ramal, exstipulate, entire, glabrous and having reticulate venation. The fruit is characteristic follicle type. The leaf extract, flowers and latex are applied as folk-medicines over ringworm infection, rotting nails and other fungal diseases of skin as revealed out by the concerned authors during the Ethnomedico botanical survey of Hardoi and Shahjahanpur districts of Uttar Pradesh between December 2008 to June 2012. Therefore, the present investigation was carried out to confirm its antifungal activities expermentally. Four dermatophytes namely Candida albicans (MTCC#183).   Tinea capitis (MTCC#7739) Epidermophyton floccosum (RV # 71625) and Microsporum canis (CRV#66973) were cultured in the laboratory. The bark was dried, crushed and powdered by mortar and pestle with the use of electric grinder too. The powder was extracted at room temperature and ethanol extract was prepared. The sterile Whatman filter paper disks (6mm) were saturated with the extract and applied over culture media. The zones of inhibition were recorded to find out the efficacy of bark extract against aforesaid fungi. In the present investigation, Ketoconazole was used as control.