ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF Glycosmis pentaphylla ROOTS AGAINST DERMATOPHYTES AND YEAST-LIKE FUNGI RESPONSIBLE FOR VARIOUS SKIN AILMENTS

In this study, antifungal and antioxidant activities of hydroalcoholic and aqueous extracts of the roots of Glycosmis pentaphylla were assessed. Total phenolic content of 22.45 +/- 1.49 and 5.23 +/- 1.11 mu g gallic acid equivalents per mg of sample and total flavonoids content 98.312 +/- 1.21 and 59.52 +/- 0.33 mu g rutin equivalents per mg of sample were estimated in both the extracts. The antioxidant activity was determined using DPPH, CUPRAC, FRAP, and ABTS(+) methods. Hydroalcoholic extract shows maximum antioxidant activity on DPPH, CUPRAC, FRAP and ABTS(+) radical scavenging activity. The antifungal activity of the extracts was determined by broth dilution methods against skin dermatophytes. Candida albicans which is most important fungi responsible for dermatitis was most sensitive to the hydroalcoholic extract of Glycosmis pentaphylla with the MIC of 50 mu g/ml, whereas Candida parapsilosis shows least sensitivity. Our results reveal that extracts of Glycosmis pentaphylla root were active against skin dermatophytes and yeast-like fungi.