African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 6 (22), pp. 2529-2531, 19 November 2007   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2007 Academic Journals        

Short Communication

Antimicrobial activity of a decoction used by Southwestern Nigeria traditional healers on selected dermatophytes

Kilani, A. M.¹, Oyelade, O.¹ and Adeleke, O. E.²

¹Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Lagos, Akoka Nigeria.

²Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: 2005@yahoo.com.

Accepted 18 June, 2007

The antifungal activity of a herbal decoction used by south western Nigeria traditional healers in the treatment of superficial mycoses and related infectious diseases was tested against clinical isolates of Candida albicans, Trichophyton rubrum and Microsporium sp. All the test organisms were susceptible to the herbal decoction. Candida albicans were highly susceptible, while Microsporium species were least susceptible. Qualitative detection of some antimicrobial phytochemicals may account for the antifungal efficacy exhibited by the studied decoction.

Key words: Traditional healers, herbal decoction, and antimicrobial activity.