Nigerian researchers have demonstrated how extracts of local plants
could be effectively used to treat fungal and skin infections including
thrush (Candida albicans), dermatitis, eczema and scabies.
Nigerian doctors have also identified local herb, which clears oral thrush faster and better than conventional drug.
Thrush is becoming one of the commonest infant diseases in the
country, not sparing adults with compromised immunity due to certain
diseases. It comes with white patches on the tongue and general skin
diseases in infants (called nla in Yoruba and obu in Ibo) and in adults
with white patches in genital areas. Thrush or candidiasis, caused by
Candida albicans, is on the prowl.
But a local herb has been demonstrated by medical doctors to be more
efficacious than a conventional antifungal drug, Nystatin, in the
treatment of thrush. It has been shown that pathogenic fungi such as
Candida albicans cause both superficial and serious systemic infections
and are now widely recognized as important agents of hospital-acquired
infection.
A very recent study has identified herbal combination of extracts of
Mitracarpus scaber, Ocimum gratissimum, Senna alata and Jatropha
multifida as novel treatment for fungal diseases including thrush.
Mitracarpus scaber belongs to the plant family Rubiaceae.
Mitracarpus scaber is a perennial annual herb of about 30 centimetres
tall or much smaller and possess rough leaves. In Nigeria, it is known
as Ogwungwo or Obuobwa in Igbo language, Gududal in Hausa language and
Irawo lle in Yoruba language. The leaf extracts of Mitracarpus scaber is
widely used in traditional medicine practices in West Africa for the
treatment of headaches, toothaches, amenorrhoea, dyspepsia, hepatic
diseases, venereal diseases as well as leprosy.
It is claimed that the plant has both antibacterial and antifungal
activities. In Senegal, the plant is used for the treatment of sore
throat and also for leprosy in the same way as Cola cordifolia and in
Nigeria, the juice from the crushed plant is known to be applied
topically for the treatment of skin diseases such as ringworm, lice,
itching, craw – craw and other fungi diseases or applied to dressings
for fresh cuts, wounds and ulcers. It is also used as an ingredient in
fish poison by some pagan tribes. Ocimum gratissimum is a shrub
belonging to the family Lamiaceae. I
t is commonly known as Scent leaf or Clove basil and is found in many
tropical countries. Africa and Asia are however, the two continents
where most variants of the plant exist. O. gratissimum is found in the
tropical and warm temperature regions such as India and Nigeria. It is
called Nchu-anwu in Igbo, Efinrin in Yoruba, Aramogbo in Edo and Daidoya
in Hausa. O. gratissimum has been described to have other species in
the flora of tropical West Africa.
These include: Ocimum viride, Ocimum suave, Ocimum basilicum and
Ocimum canum. Commonly called French physic nut; Spanish physic nut;
coral plant, Jatropha multifida belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae. It
is called ebosa in Edo; olulu idu in Ibo; botuje, botuje-pupa, lapalapa,
or lobotuje in Yoruba.
Commonly called bush candle, Cassia alata/Senna alata, which belongs
to the plant family Fabaceae is an ornamental shrub. Senna alata also
known as Cassia alata is a shrub from the leguminosae family.
It is called Asunrun Oyinbo in Yoruba and Ogalu in Ibo. It is locally
used in Nigeria in the treatment of several infections, which include
ringworm, parasitic skin disease. Senna alata is also credited for
treatment of haemorrhoids, constipation, inguinal hernia, intestinal
parasite, blennorrhagia, syphilis and diabetics.
The leaf of this plant was reported to be useful in treating
convulsion, onolthoea, heart failure, abnormal pain, oedema as and as
purgative but it was especially useful in treating dermatophytosis.
Meanwhile, one of the studies titled “Efficacy of Two Commonly Used
Antifungal Herbs in Nigeria Against Clinical Isolates of Fungi’ was
published in Microbiology Journal and Science Alert.
The researchers include: Anejionu Miriam Goodness, Nweze Emeka
Innocent, Dibua Esther Uju and Esimone Charles Okechukwu. The
researchers concluded: “This present study has therefore demonstrated
that the ethanolic extracts of Mitracarpus scaber and Ocimum gratissimum
oil have antifungal activity against moulds and Candida albicans.
These findings justify their local use in Nigeria and other
countries. Generally, the activity of O. gratissimum oil was better than
M. scaber extract and the tested antifungal drugs as shown by the in
vitro susceptibility test data of the fungal isolates to the antifungal
herbal extracts. “The killing rate study indicated also that the oil has
very good activity against the isolates.
The killing kinetics showed that the extracts started killing the
tested isolates completely from two hour and upwards. However, further
studies involving animal studies are warranted to confirm, among other
things, the safety profile of these extracts.” The researchers wrote:
“Mitracarpus scaber and Ocimum gratissimum are used extensively in
Nigerian herbal medicinal practice to treat many ailments especially
those caused by fungi.
In the current study, the antifungal activities of these two herbs
against fungal isolates (moulds and yeast) recovered from subjects in
the community were evaluated. Twenty species of moulds tested were
isolated from three clinical samples including skin scrapping (n = 13),
scalp (n = 4) and skin/scalp (n = 3) while 18 clinical isolates of
Candida albicans were isolated from seven clinical samples including
high vaginal swab (n = 8), sputum (n = 4), urine (n = 1), endo-cervical
swab (n = 2), groin (n = 1), mouth thrush (n = 1) and palm (n = 1).
Studies on the in vitro antifungal activity of the ethanol extract of
Mitracarpus scaber (50 μg mL-1) and Ocimum gratissimum oil (50 μg mL-1)
showed that the clinical isolates were sensitive to the herbal extracts
but more sensitive to O. gratissimum oil extract with minimum
inhibitory concentration (MIC) range of 0.8-1.25 μg mL-1 than to
ketoconazole- an antifungal medication that fights infections caused by
fungus- (MIC range of 0.31 to 5.00 μg mL-1).
The MIC ranges for sodium salicylate and aspirin were 0.75 to 1.60
and 7.81 to 31.25 μg mL-1, respectively. The microbial fuel cell (MFC)
results revealed that the O. gratissimum oil had greater biocidal effect
against most of the tested organisms (MFC range of 0.156 to 2.5 μg
mL-1), whereas the effect of ketoconazole against the tested organisms
was biostatic (MFC range of 1.25 to 5.00 μg mL-1).“Biocidal studies
showed that the oil started to eliminate the organisms earlier than the
ketoconazole.
The study has confirmed the in vitro activity of these two extracts
on the fungal isolates tested.” Earlier studies by Nigerian doctors had
confirmed the efficacy of the juice extracts of a local plant, Jatropha
multifada, in the management of oral candidiasis.
The paediatricians in a preliminary study published in The Internet
Journal of Alternative Medicine concluded: “Compared to oral Nystatin
suspension, it has the advantages of acting faster and being efficacious
as a single dose. Its use in the management of oral candidiasis is
recommended in third world countries where it is easily cultivated and
accessible.”
The researchers include: Dr. Aladekomo Theophilus Adesola, lecturer/
consultant paediatrician at the Department of Paediatrics and Child
Health, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State; and Dr.
Oyedeji Olusola Adetunji, lecturer/ consultant paediatrician at the
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Ladoke Akintola University
of Technology Teaching Hospital (LAUTTH), Osun State.
The study is titled “The Efficacy of Jatropha multifida in the
Management of Oral Candidiasis: A Preliminary Study. ” Previous studies
conducted in Tanzania had shown that Jatropha multifida has significant
anti-fugal activity, against many species of Candida, but very little
against Candida albicans.
However, the Nigerian study showed that the specie of Jatropha
multifida cultivated in Nigeria, possess antibiotic activity against
Candida albicans, and faster and more efficacious than Nysatin (a
conventional drug) in the management of thrush. According to the
Nigerian study, all the clinically detected cases of children with oral
candidiasis at the children ’s outpatient department of the Osun State
Hospital, Osogbo and children ’s welfare clinic of the Wesley Guild
Hospital, Ilesa were randomized into either Jatropha multifida Juice
extract therapy or the Nystatin group.
The juice extracts from the Jatropha multifida leaves were applied to
the tongue and the oral mucosal areas affected by candida lesions as a
single application in the patients randomized to this group. Oral
Nystatin was administered four times a day, for seven consecutive days
to the children randomized to the Nystatin group.
The researchers studied a total of five patients (three boys and two
girls) were studied with their ages ranging from two to 10 months.
Clearance of the white lesions on the tongue was defined as cure and
this was recorded within 24 hours in the patients on Jatropha multifida
juice extracts, while those on oral Nystatin showed features of cure at
48 hours.
The researchers wrote: “…The present study has shown that Jatropha
multifida leaf juice extract is effective in the management of thrush
and works faster compared to Nystatin. Its mechanism of action is
however unknown, as well as the active ingredient responsible for the
antifungal action.
The drug however appears relatively safe because of the absence of
complications in the present study. No side effects were also reported
to Nystatin therapy in the present study. However, vomiting and diarrhea
are some of the known side effects that might arise from Nystatin
therapy. The small sample size in the present study might have hindered
us from encountering these complications.“The Jatropha multifida fruit
has been documented to contain toxins such astoxabulmin ricin.
Ingestion of large quantities of this fruit has been documented to
cause severe diarrhea, dehydration, shock and hepatic impairment in
children. Ricin also has cardiotoxic and hemolytic effects and several
deaths have been reported from it. On the converse the roots, stems and
leaves of the Jatrophamultifida plant possess useful ingredients and
activities.
The fruits are widely used in traditional folk medicine in many parts of West Africa.
Other chemotherapeutic properties of this plant are used in the
treatment of ascites, gout and constipation. “In conclusion, Jatropha
multifida is a plant whose juice provides a cure for oral candidiasis.
It acts faster compared to Nystatin and compliance on the part of
patients is likely to be better since it is a single dose application.
It is recommended for use in communities where it is easily
accessible. However, further studies need to be carried out on this
plant in order determine the ingredient in it, having the anti-fungal
activities. This can be selectively extracted and made into oral
preparations for general and commercial use.”
Another study published in the Journal of Microbiology Research
concluded: “The study showed that the extracts from the leaves of Ocimum
gratissimum had pronounced antifungal activities on all the fungi
tested.
The preliminary screenings of O. gratissimum results are quite
promising and have strongly indicated the antifungal activity spectra of
leaves extract of the plant.
As the findings of study compared favourably with previous studies on
the antimicrobial activity of Ocimum gratissimum against fungal
infections, the plant holds great promise for use as both an
antibacterial and antifungal agent.
Further studies should be carried out to unravel the identity of the
active ingredients as well as its medicinal properties. Other methods of
extraction should be tried to determine the best method for optimal
yield of the medicinal ingredients. In-vivo testing using laboratory
animals should also be carried out.”
The study is titled “Effects of Ocimum Gratissimum Leaves on Common
Dermatophytes and Causative Agent of Pityriasis Versicolor in Rivers
State, Nigeria.” The researchers include: Mbakwem – Aniebo C., Onianwa
O., and Okonko I.O. of the Department of Microbiology, University of
Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The antifungal activity of Ocimum gratissimum used by traditional
medicine practitioners against the three major Dermatophytes –
Trichophyton, Microsporum, Epidermophyton together with Malassezia
furfur (the cause of Pityriasis versicolor (Eczema)), were studied by
well-in-agar diffusion technique using different concentrations of
ethanolic extracts.
Isolates from the scalp, skin, toes and feet of forty individuals
(mainly children) were obtained in four locations namely Aluu, Choba,
Rumuosi and Emohua areas of Rivers State, Nigeria. The results of the
study revealed the significant inhibitory effect of Ocimum gratissimum
at five different concentrations of 250mg/ml, 200mg/ml, 150mg/ml,
100mg/ml and 50mg/ml used.
The diameter zones of inhibition exhibited by the extracts against
the test fungal species ranged between 12.50 and 20mm. The minimum
inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the ethanol extract of O.
gratissimum was 50.01, 52.40, 63.06 and 63.09 mg/ml for Malassezia
furfur, Microsporum, Trichophyton and Epidermophyton, respectively.
Assessment of the various MICs showed that Ocimum gratissimum has
great potential for use as an anti-dermatophytic agent. The study showed
that the extracts from the leaves of Ocimum gratissimum had pronounced
antifungal activities on all the fungi tested. The study has shown that
the leaves extracts of O. gratissimum are quite promising and have
strongly indicated the antifungal activity spectra of leaves extract of
the plant.
In conclusion, the results from this study indicated potentials of
leaves extract of Ocimum gratissimum as a source of antifungal
compounds. Another study published in the Research Journal of Biological
Sciences concluded: “In this study, the extracts of Senna alata leaf
crude extract have high potential as antimicrobial agent.
It showed varying degrees of activities against all the tested
dermatophytes with better antifungal activity against Microsporum canis,
Trichophyton verrucosum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Epidermophyton
jloccosum.
The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of important
secondary metabolite (alkaloids, saponins, tannins, steroid and
anthraquinones), thus indicating the therapeutic potentials of Senna
alata L. leaf.” “It showed the presence of bioactive compounds as well
as the antifungal properties of ethanolic crude extract. However, this
finding provides an insight into the usage of this plant in traditional
treatment of foot infections, subcutaneous parasitic infection,
intestinal parasitism, venereal diseases and other diseases associated
with bacterial and fungal infections.”
The study titled “In vitro Antifungal Activity of Senna alata Linn.
Crude Leaf Extract” was conducted by: W.F. Sule, I.O. Okonko, T.A.
Joseph, M.O. Ojezele, J.C. Nwanze, J.A. Alli, O.G. Adewale and O.J.
Ojezele. This study reports on the in vitro antifungal activity of Senna
alata crude leaf extract on clinical test dermatophytes. The studies on
the in vitro investigation of antifungal activities of ethanolic
extracts of Senna alata leaf were carried out.
The test was conducted on dermatophytes, which included dermatophytes
of the genera Trichophyton, Microsporum and Epidermophyton. These fungi
are the causative agents of various types of dermatophytosis, which
attack various parts of the body and tend to the following conditions,
Tinea capitis, Tinea cruris, Tinea coporis and Tinea pedis.
The results obtained showed that the leaf exudates and the ethanol
extract of the leaf of Senna alata: had marked antifungal effects on
Microsporum canis, Trichophyton jirrucosum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes
and Epidermophyton jlorrcosum. The ethanolic extract showed the highest
inhibition on Trinchophyton verrucosuf and Epidermophyton jloccosum with
20.50 and 20.00 mm zone of inhibition, respectively. The MIC was also
performed and the result showed that the MIC of Senna alata on all the
tested dermatophytes was 5.0 mg mL-1, which is the standard.
The results obtain from the biochemical analysis of the plant Senna
alata revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins,
anthracionones and carbohydrates.
A similar study in Malaysia by Ibrahim and Osman (1995) reported that
ethanolic extracts of Senna alata plant show high antifungal activity
against dermatophytic fungal such as Trichophyton mentagrophyte var.
interaligitale and var. Metagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum and
Microsporum gypseum.
Several studies have documented the basis of the leaf of Senna alata
in herbal medicine. Adebayo et al. (1999) documented that MIC of the
plant extract was low on all fungal agents except Aspergillus niger.
VIA : GUARDIANNG
No comments:
Post a Comment