Overview on Echinophora platyloba, a synergistic anti-fungal agent candidate

Avijgan Majid1*, Mahboubi Mohaddesse2, Darabi Mahdi2, Saadat Mahdi3,

 Sarikhani Sanaz1 and Nazilla Kassaiyan1

¹Iranian Traditional Medicine research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

²Barij Essence pharmaceutical Company, Isfahan, Kashan, Iran.

³Shahr-e-kord University of Medical Sciences, Shahr-e-kord, Iran.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: irtradmed@mui.ac.ir, avijgan@yahoo.com.

Tel: +98 913 181 80 85. Fax: +98 311 668 45 10.

Accepted 28 May, 2010

   Abstract

Echinophora Platyloba DC. is one of the four native species of this plant in Iran. The aim of this five-step study was to investigate the antimicrobial properties of this plant. Dried aerial parts of the plant were extracted by ethanol 70% in percolator. The antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extract was evaluated against dermatophytes, Candida albicans and gram positive bacteria by agar dilution method and microbroth dilution assay. Finally, the synergistic effect of Amphotericin B plus 5% ethanolic extract against C. albicans was determined by measuring MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) and MLC (minimum lethal concentration) values. Gram positive bacteria were resistant to the extract according to measurement of zones of inhibition; Trichophyton schenlaini and Trichophyton verucosum were sensitive to concentrations  35 mg/ml, while other dermatophytes showed various susceptibilities to extract. MIC value of 5% ethanolic extract was 2 mg/ml against C. albicans using broth micro dilution method. In synergism assay, there was a 50% reduction in MIC and a 75% reduction in MLC values of the mixture of Amphotericin B and 5% ethanolic extract against C. albicans in comparison to Amphotericin B alone. Regarding this study, some degrees of synergy was recorded in the combination of Amphotericin B plus E. platyloba extract covering C. albicans which represented promising finding in antifungal therapy.

Key words: Amphotericin B, Candida albicans, Echinophora platyloba, ethanolic extract, traditional medicine.