Antifungal Effects of English Camphor Basil (Ocimum canum) Leaves and Flower Extracts on some Selected Fungi Associated with Skin Infections

Investigations were carried out to ascertain the antifungal activity of English camphor basil (Ocimumcanum) leaves and flower extracts on some selected fungi associated with skin infections. Plant samples were collected at Mista Ali, Bassa LGA of Plateau State. Phytochemical analysis was carried out in the Biochemistry Laboratory of National Veterinary Research Institute Vom (NVRI), located in Jos South LGA. Qualitatively, both extract revealed the presence of steroids, cardiac glycosides and flavonoids while tannins were detected in the leaves extract only. There was significant (pless than0.05) variation in the quantity of inherent phytochemical components of the extracts. Cardiac glycoside was present in the leavesand flower extracts of Ocimumcanum. The test organisms, T. mentagrophytes, T. tonsurans, T. rubrum, T. verrucosum, M. canis were obtained from the microbial banks of bacteriology and dermatophilosis sections of NVRI, Vom and were standardized with a Nephelometer. T. mentagrophytes was the only fungi specie susceptible to both extracts. The flower extract had significantly higher (pless than0.05) antifungal activity (200.93mm) against T. mentagrophytes than the leaves extract (16.71.53mm). Both extracts showed MIC of 25mg/ml against T. mentagrophytes. MFC ranged from 50-100mg/ml for the sensitive fungal isolate. Fractional Inhibitory Concentration Index (FICI) from the combined extracts varied from 1.89 to 3.97on the fungus and that showed lack of interaction (FICIless than4). Synergistic activity of O. canum was not effective on fungal isolates tested. However, bioactive constituents of the plant parts can be of pharmacological importance.