EVALUATION OF ANTIMYCOTIC ACTIVITY OF PHYLLANTHUS EMBLICA LINN. ON TWO ISOLATES (MALASSEZIA FURFUR AND MALASSEZIA OBTUSA) FROM DANDRUFF AND PITYRIASIS VERSICOLOR
Malassezia furfur and Malassezia obtusa, a lipophilic fungus affect the scalp and cause a disorder called dandruff (while flakes of skin that separate and fall from the scalp) and these organisms were implicated in Pityriasis versicolor (a disorder of chronic, superficial lesions are scaly macules or patches). Herbal and natural products of folk medicine have been used for Centuries in every culture throughout the world. Scientists and medical professionals have shown increasing interest to know the truth about the benefits of these remedies. The aim of the study was to evaluate the anti-dandruff activity of lyophilized aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Phylanthus emblica Linn. On two fungi (Malassezia furfur and M. obtusa) isolated from dandruff and Pityriasis versicolor. The In vitro efficiency of the lyophilized extracts of Phyllanthus emblica L on these two fungi were evaluated by Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and the effect of the extracts was compared with two antifungal drugs. Samples were collected from the volunteer‟s recipient and processed. From the processed samples, Malassezia furfur and Malassezia obtusa where the two organisms isolated from dandruff samples and skin infection caused by Pityriasis versicolor. From this experimental study, the Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) of aqueous extract of Phyllanthus emblica on M.furfur were 12.5 µg/ml and 50 µg /ml for M.obtusa. The MFC of the ethanolic extract on M.fufur were 25 µg /ml and 25 µg /ml for M.obtusa. Both the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Phyllanthus emblica L and standard drugs were effective on the isolated fungi. However, the aqueous extract showed better activity as 6.25µg/ml for Malassezia furfur and the ethanolic extract showed better activity for the organism Malassezia obtusa 25µg/ml. This plant is worth to be further investigated and might be advantageous as an alternative drug for treatment of fungal diseases