Studies on antidermatophytic activity of waste leaves of Curcuma longa L.

Abstract

During antidermatophytic screening of some essential oils, Curcuma longa L. exhibited the strongest antifungal activity, completely inhibiting the mycelial growth of ringworm, caused by the fungi-Microsporum gypseum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. The essential oil from leaves of Curcuma longa was fungicidal at 2.5 l/ml at which it tolerated heavy doses of inoculum. The fungicidal activity of the oil was thermostable up to 80 ºC and self life up to 24 months in storage. The oil also showed a broad fungitoxic spectrum, inhibiting the mycelial growth of other fungi, viz., Epidermophyton floccosum, M. nanum, T. rubrum, T. violaceum. Moreover, up to 5 % concentration it did not exhibit any adverse effect on mammalian skins. The oil has been formulated in the form of an ointment, 1 % w/v and subjected to topical testing on patients of the Out Patient Department (OPD) at Moti Lal Nehru Medical College, Allahabad. Patients were selected on the basis of KOHpositive results and diagnosed tenia corporis. After the second week of treatment, all patients were KOH-negative. At the end of medication, 75 % of patients recovered completely while 15 % showed significant improvement from the disease. The ointment thus, can be exploited commercially after ongoing successful clinical trials. Relationship of the dermatophytes to the toxicity of the oil vis-a-vis phylogeny using molecular data of the pathogens have also been discussed.

Antifungal Properties of Essential Oils and Their Compounds for Application in Skin Fungal Infections: Conventional and Nonconventional Approaches

“…Trichophyton and Microsporum species were identified as the cause of this infection. Tinea corporis infection generally occurs within the stratum corneum of the epidermis, and may be transmitted via direct contact with infected individuals or animals [ 96 , 142 , 143 ].…”

“…Intervention studies that involved the topical application of the oil formulation gave positive insights into its efficacy; complete healing was observed in 72% of cases after three weeks of treatment, without any relapse when patients were examined two months later. Hence, the study proposed the application of C. longa leaf EO as an inexpensive and effective formulation for commercial use [ 96 ].…”

Antifungal and Immunomodulatory Ingredients from Traditional Chinese Medicine

“…Notably, turmeric oil exhibits low toxicity towards humans. It did not show any irritation or adverse effect at a 5% concentration for up to 3 weeks in a clinical trial [29]. Moreover, the main component of turmeric oil, Ar-turmerone, exhibits more potent antifungal activity against dermatophytes than ketoconazole, with MICs ranging from 3.90 to 7.81 µg/mL [30].…”

“…It has long been used as a common household medicine and a yellow spice in Southeast Asia. As for antifungal activities, turmeric oil completely inhibits common dermatophyte growth at the concentration of 0.2% v/v, including Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum gypseum, M. nanum, T. mentagrophyte, T. rubrum, and T. violaceum [29]. Notably, turmeric oil exhibits low toxicity towards humans.…”

Inhibitory Effects of Thymol Isolated from Curcuma longa L. on Adipogenesis in HepG2 Cells

“…It is well known as a raw material for curry and has traditionally been used as a spice [7]. The main active component that makes up C. longa is curcumin, and other phytochemicals are curcumenol, curcumol, zingibere, curcumeene, and p-cymene [8,9]. According to reports, curcumin has anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-inflammatory, and liver-protective effects [10].…”