In vivo antifungal activity of Acmella essential oil on a dermatomycotic strain Trichophyton mentagrophytes (MTCC-7687)

Trichophyton mentagrophytes is spotted as skin invasive dermatophyte. Further the strain is found to have endowed with innate drug avoidance mechanism. In topical countries, chronic dermatophytic infections are always in flash reports. In this tricky situation, ecofriendly, cost effective and safe medicinal principles from plants may be used reliable drugs against dermatopmycotic infections. Spilanthes acmella Murr. (Asteraceae) is commonly known as toothache plant is found luxuriously in our native land. This present pursuit aims at studying the antifungal efficacy of Acmella essential oil against Trichophyton (Trichophyton mentagrophytes, MTCC 7687) infections induced on a mouse model. Nude mice (Mus musculus) were topically inoculated with T. mentagrophytes spores by using “Spore suspension” method. After induction of the infection, the symptomatic mice groups were subjected to topical application of Acmella essential oil at a concentration of 1μl/ml (V/V, oil/emulsifier). Terbinafine (5mg/ml, W/V) was taken as standard drug. Four groups of mice were taken for the study. Two groups (3 mice/group) for positive and negative controls respectively, while the rest of the groups were studied for the test drug efficacy. There was 75% remedial effect of infected area by the activity of Acmella essential oil as observed on 11th day of experiment schedule as compared with Terbinafine which had absolute effect on 8th day. The results obtained from this in vivo study, it was suggestive about curing activity of Acmella essential oil against the induced Trichophyton infection in mouse models.

Author(s): Dipti K. Padhan

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