Antimicrobial activity of the obromacacao pod husk extract on isolates of trychophyton species from cases of tinea capitisand related keratinized infections

Abstract

This study evaluated the antimicrobial activity of Theobroma cacao pod husk extract on isolates of Trichopyton species; T. mentagrophytes, T. tonsurans, T. rubrum and Microsporum canis from Tinea capitis and keratinized infection in Ibadan. Fifty (50) clinical isolates of Trychophyton species in varied ratios were collected fromdermatology unit of the University College Hospital Ibadan. The isolates were subcultured on to Saboraud Dextrose Agar medium fortified with 0.05mg of chloramphenicol and 0.2mg of cyclohexidime and then incubated aerobically at 25-300C for 72 hours and were biochemically differentiated with Urea broth. Phytochemical analysis of the extract and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC’s) were determined. The gender distribution ratios of the primary source of isolates were 70% males to 30% females. The N-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of the CPH gave a yield of 1.29, 2.05 and 3.89 percent respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of methanol ranged from 1.625 -3.125mg/mL, while the MIC‘s range of 12.5-50mg/mL and 0- 12.5mg/mL were recorded for N-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts respectively. Tannins, saponins, flavonoids alkaloids were detected as bioactive compounds from the CPH extract investigated. The presence of bioactive compounds coupled with varied remarkable MIC's values recorded against the isolates in this study, is indicative of an antifungal potential of the cacao pod husk extract investigated.