Antifungal Activity of Red-stemmed Ipomoea aquatica Forsk. Extracts against Dermatophytes and Malassezia sp.

Objective: To evaluate the in vitro antifungal activity of the extracts of fresh and dry apical buds and flowers of red-stemmed Ipomoea aquatic Forsk. on the inhibition of three dermatophytes ( Tricophyton rubrum , Epidermophyton floccosum and Microsporum gypseum ) and two Malassezia species ( M. furfur and M. globosa ). Method: The disc diffusion was performed to determine the antifungal activity of the extracts, and the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was measured using a broth micro-dilution method. Results: The extracts of dry apical buds and flowers of red-stemmed type of Ipomoea aquatic Forsk. inhibited T. rubrum , E. floccosum , M. gypseum and M. globosa . Fresh apical bud extracts inhibited E. floccosum and M. globose , whereas those of fresh flowers were for only E. floccosum . However, none of four types of extracts exhibited antifungal activity against M. furfur . When tested with the broth micro-dilution technique, all four extract inhibited E. floccosum the most at the MIC of 25 mg/ml. Conclusion: The extracts of dry apical buds and flowers of red-stemmed Ipomoea aquatica Forsk. could inhibit dermatophytes and Malassezia sp. in vitro . The result was consistent with the use of Thai folklore remedy against skin infections of dermatophytes and Malassezia sp. Keywords: Antifungal activity, red-stemmed Ipomoea aquatic Forsk., fungus, dermatophytes, Malassezia sp.