The present study aims to determine the anti-fungal activity of combined and individual effect of Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) and Kacholam (Kaempferia galangal) against Candida albicans, Trichophyton rubrum, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes by agar well disc diffusion method. Extract from these spices showed remarkable antifungal activity against T. mentagrophytes, T. rubrum and C. albicans.
Clove exhibits significant antifungal activity against all the microorganisms tested. Cinnamon showed good inhibitory effect against T. mentagrophytes and C. albicans whereas kacholam showed an inhibitory effect against T. mentagrophytes and T. rubrum. Thus, the study concluded that individual effect of spices is better than the combinatorial effect against all the fungus tested.
Spices have been used as food and flavouring agent since the ancient times, and as a medicine in the recent decades. Now it is widely used across the globe as they possess great potential in the treatment of various diseases. It can serve as a better alternative to the modern synthetic drugs due to its lack of side effects and possible role in a wide range of therapeutic application.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1. Objective of the study
2. Review of literature
2.1. Spices
2.3. Opportunistic Fungi- C. albicans
3. Materials and Methods
3.1 Preparation of Raw material
3.2 Extraction process
3.3 Preparation of Media
3.4 Fungal strains and cultural conditions
3.5 Haemocytometer counts
3.6 Antifungal screening of extracts
4. Results
4.1 Screening of DMSO (Negative control) and standard drugs (Positive control)
4.2 Determination of antifungal effects of clove, cinnamon, kacholam against T. mentagrophytes
4.3 Determination of antifungal effects of clove, cinnamon, kacholam against T. rubrum
4.4 Determination of antifungal effects of clove, cinnamon, kacholam against C. albicans
4.5 Determination of combinatorial effects of clove, cinnamon, kacholam against pathogenic fungi
5. Discussion
6. Summary and Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
The study investigates the antifungal properties of extracts from clove, cinnamon, and kacholam against specific pathogenic fungi, aiming to determine their individual efficacy compared to standard antifungal drugs and evaluating whether a combinatorial approach provides enhanced therapeutic benefits.
- Antifungal activity of natural spice extracts.
- Comparative analysis against standard synthetic antifungal drugs.
- Evaluation of individual versus combinatorial extract effects.
- Pathogenic fungal response to traditional spice-based treatment.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2 Extraction process
100g of powdered samples was taken in a conical flask and added required volume of 70% ethanol. The mouth of the conical flask was covered with aluminum foil and kept in a reciprocating shaker for 24 h for continuous agitation at 150 rev/min for thorough mixing and also complete elucidation of active materials to dissolve in the respective solvent. Then, extract was filtered by using muslin cloth followed by Whatman no 1 filter paper. The solvent from the extract was removed by using rotary vacuum evaporator with the water bath temperature of 60°C. Finally, the residues were collected and refrigerated at 4 ºC until further analysis.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Provides background on the history of medicinal plants, the role of spices in traditional medicine, and outlines the study's goal to evaluate natural alternatives to conventional antifungal agents.
2. Review of literature: Offers a theoretical foundation regarding the botanical and medicinal properties of clove, cinnamon, and kacholam, alongside a review of the targeted pathogenic fungi.
3. Materials and Methods: Details the systematic approach to sample preparation, extraction protocols, media preparation, and the standardized techniques for fungal cultivation and screening.
4. Results: Presents empirical data on the antifungal efficacy of individual spice extracts and their combinations against specific test pathogens.
5. Discussion: Analyzes the findings in the context of existing literature, discussing the potential phytochemical mechanisms behind the observed antifungal activities.
6. Summary and Conclusion: Summarizes the key experimental outcomes, concluding that individual spice extracts generally outperform their combinations against the tested fungal strains.
Keywords
Spices, Dermatophytes, Opportunistic fungi, Agar well diffusion method, Clove, Cinnamon, Kacholam, Candida albicans, Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Antifungal activity, Medicinal plants, Mycoses, Fungistatic, Fungicidal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The study focuses on evaluating the medicinal, specifically antifungal, properties of three traditional spices—clove, cinnamon, and kacholam—against common human fungal pathogens.
What are the central themes of the work?
Key themes include natural medicine as an alternative to synthetic drugs, the antimicrobial mechanisms of plant-derived substances, and the comparative analysis of individual versus combinatorial treatment effects.
What is the main objective of the study?
The primary aim is to test the efficacy of these spice extracts against pathogens like Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum, and Candida albicans to determine if they can effectively replace or supplement modern conventional medications.
Which scientific method was employed?
The research utilized the "agar well disc diffusion method" to quantify the antifungal activity by measuring the zones of inhibition produced by the various spice extracts.
What is addressed in the main body of the paper?
The main body covers the extraction processes, the preparation of microbial cultures, the rigorous testing against standard drugs like ketoconazole and fluconazole, and the analysis of individual and combined spice extract performance.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The research is best described by keywords such as antifungal activity, dermatophytes, spice extracts, Clove, Cinnamon, Kacholam, and the specific fungal strains used, such as Candida albicans.
Why was the combination of extracts tested in this study?
The researchers sought to investigate if a combinatorial approach would yield synergistic or additive antifungal effects, potentially enhancing treatment outcomes compared to using individual spices.
What was the key conclusion regarding the combinatorial effect of the spices?
Surprisingly, the study concluded that individual spice extracts are generally more effective than the combinatorial mixtures, which showed antagonistic or significantly reduced activity against the tested fungi.
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- Dr. R. Mohanan (Autor:in), S. Thomas (Autor:in), S. P. Jose (Autor:in), S. Sreevallabhan (Autor:in), Dr. S. Sukumaran (Autor:in), Dr. G. Bhaskaran Nair (Autor:in), A. Sukumarapillai (Autor:in), S. Rajan (Autor:in), J. Joseph (Autor:in), 2020, Anti-fungal activity of traditional spices against dermatophytes and opportunistic fungi. Comparison of combinatorial effects of clove, cinnamon and kacholam, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/953223
