Affiliation:
1. Department of Microbiology, Falavarjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
2. Department of Biochemistry, Falavarjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
3. Razi Herbal Medicines Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
4. University of Pisa, Italy
Abstract
Background:
Trichophyton spp., as pathogenic species to humans and animals, cause
different forms of dermatophytosis through the production of particular enzymes, playing an essential role in tissue invasion. Among these, herein, keratinase was investigated, for the specific case
of Trichophyton mentagrophytes, as a target of the effects of Allium hirtifolium and Allium jesdianum extracts, thus pharmacological potential of these plants was studied against keratinase activity.
Methodology:
Sampling was carried out on 20 bald patients from medical diagnostic laboratories
and mycology centers, with suspected dermatophytosis of scalp. For confirming the presence of Trichophyton mentagrophytes in the specimens, different laboratory procedures were applied. Trichophyton mentagrophytes isolates were cultured on a screening medium containing keratin to verify
production of the keratinase enzyme. The best enzyme-producing isolate was selected by measuring diameter of transparent halo around colony to be used in subsequent stages. Afterwards, the optimized conditions maximizing enzyme production and activity were determined. Finally, the inhibitory effect of different dilutions of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Allium jesdianum and Allium hirtifolium on extracellular keratinase activity was studied.
Results :
Sixteen out of 20 fungal isolates were identified as the Trichophyton mentagrophytes. The
most desirable reduction on keratinase activity was reported for dilution values of 50 and 100
mg/ml of both aqueous and ethanolic extracts of A.jesdianum, though much more significant decrease belonged to the latter, and for dilution values of 25 and 100 mg/ ml of both aqueous and
ethanolic extracts of A.hirtifolium.
Conclusion :
Concerning our results, it is suggested that paying special attention to these natural
compounds for the treatment of dermatophytosis could be remarkably effective, considering significant production of keratinase observed in T. mentagrophytes, and they are beneficial, as they have
no side effects and offer an alternative to currently available medications, which are under the restriction of drug resistance.
Publisher
Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
Subject
Pharmacology (medical),General Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics