title: Evaluation of inhibitory effect of the plant Phyllanthus amarus against dermatophytic fungi Microsporum gypseum.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The antifungal activity of various solvent extracts (such as ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and ethyl alcohol) of the plant Phyllanthus amarus against dermatophytic fungi Microsporum gypseum was observed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Antifungal bioassay in terms of reduction in weight, colony diameter and sporulation of the target fungal colony was carried out using Broth Dilution method. Results Root part of the plant, extracted in various organic solvents did not show any noticeable antifungal activity. The percentage inhibition observed in different solvent extracts of aerial part was found as reduction in weight: chloroform [50.3%], ethyl acetate [27.7%] and ethyl alcohol [12.1%], reduction in colony diameter: chloroform [53.4%], ethyl acetate [31.4%] and ethyl alcohol [15.0%] and reduction in sporulation: maximum inhibition in chloroform extract, at test concentration of 4000 ppm at incubation period of 8 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chloroform fraction of the aerial part of the plant P. amarus shows significant inhibitory effect against dermatophytic fungi M. gypseum and requires chemical characterization for its bioactive principle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Dayalbagh Educational Institute, Deemed University, Agra-282 005, India.
authors.forename: Anurag
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agrawal
authors.forename: Shalini
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Srivastava
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Srivastava
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Srivasava
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000737:chemistry; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002725:Chloroform / Q000737:chemistry; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D008864:Microsporum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D029803:Phyllanthus; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D018517:Plant Roots
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000431:Ethanol; C007650:ethyl acetate; D002725:Chloroform