Mycotic infections are probably the most common cause of skin disease
in developing countries of tropical regions. Dermatophytosis is the most frequent superficial
fungal infection in tropical and subtropical countries. The drugs used against
dermatophytosis and exhibit several side effects and have limited efficacy. So that there
is a distinct need for the discovery of new safer and more effective antifungal agents. The
use of medicinal herbs in the treatment of skin diseases including mycotic infections is
an age-old practice in many parts of the world. Because herbal remedies used in traditional
folk medicine may help to overcome the growing problem of resistance to antifungal drugs
and their relative toxicity. In this study, the in vitro antifungal activity of Ixora brachiata
Roxb. leaves and root extract were evaluated against three different genera of dermatophytes
viz. Microsporum, Trichophyton and Epidermophyton by Agar Dilution Method. Ixora
brachiata belongs to family Rubiaceae. It is small tree 15-30 ft. high, found to be growing
in high rainfall locality. The extracts inhibited the growth of the dermatophytes tested at
different concentrations. The most biologically active was the ethanolic extract from the
root which inhibited 14 isolates (100%) at a concentration of 125μgml-1. The MFC values
of these compounds were between 500-1000μgml-l.
Key words: Dermatophytes, Ixora brachiata Roxb., Antifungal activity, Herbal drugs
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