In vitro antifungal activity of dragon's blood from Croton urucurana against dermatophytes

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology Vol. 97; no. 2; pp. 409 - 412
• Main Authors: Gurgel, Luilma A., Sidrim, J.J.C., Martins, Domingos T., Filho, V. Cechinel, Rao, Vietla S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 28.02.2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Antifungal activity; Antifungal Agents - isolation & purification; Antifungal Agents - pharmacology; antifungal properties; Arthrodermataceae - drug effects; bark; Biological and medical sciences; Croton; Croton urucurana; Dermatophytes; Dragon's blood; Ethnobotany; General pharmacology; keratinophilic fungi; Medical sciences; medicinal plants; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Plant Bark; Plant Extracts - isolation & purification; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; sap; traditional medicine; Antifungal activity; Dragon's blood; Dermatophytes; Croton urucurana; Biological fluid; Pharmacognosy; In vitro; Biological activity; Blood; Medicinal plant; Antifungal agent; Plant origin; Dermatophyte
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2004.11.033

Based on ethnobotanical approach, the dragon's blood collected from Croton urucurana Baill. bark (Euphorbiaceae) was tested for antifungal activity against five dermatophytes by paper disk diffusion method. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) showing no visible fungal growth was also determined, using tube dilution technique. The test dermatophytes were Tricophyton tonsurans, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum, Microsporum canis and Epidermophyton floccossum. The dragon's blood (0.175–3.0 mg/ml) exhibited an inhibition zone range of 7.6–26.9 mm against all the tested fungi with minimal inhibitory concentrations of 1.25–2.5 mg/ml.