Braz J Microbiol. 2012 Oct;43(4):1347-54. doi: 10.1590/S1517-838220120004000016. Epub 2012 Jun 1.
- 1Department of Botany, SGRR (PG) College , Pathribagh, Dehradun, 248001.
Abstract
Piedra,
is an asymptomatic fungal infection of the hair shaft, resulting in the
formation of nodules of different hardness on the infected hair. The
infection also known as Trichomycosis nodularis is a superficial fungal
infection arising from the pathogen being restricted to the stratum
corneum with little or no tissue reaction. The nodules are a concretion
of hyphae and fruiting bodies of the fungus. Two varieties of Piedra may
be seen, Black Piedra and White Piedra. The fungus Trichosporon ovoides
is involved in the occurrence of both types of Piedras. The purpose of
this study was to examine the effectiveness of selected essential oils
for the control of growth of the fungus and to determine whether the
antifungal effect was due to the major compounds of the oils. Two
screening methods viz. Agar well diffusion assay and Minimum Inhibitory
Concentration were adopted for the study. MIC and MFC were determined by
tube dilution method. Essential oils from Eucalyptus, Ocimum basilicum,
Mentha piperita, Cymbopogon flexuosus, Cymbopogon winterians,
Trachyspermum ammi, Zingiber officinalis, Citrus limon, Cinnamomon
zeylanicum, Salvia sclarea, Citrus aurantifolia, Melaleuca alternifolia,
Citrus aurantium, Citrus bergamia, Pogostemon pathchouli, Cedrus
atlantica, Jasminum officinale, Juniperus communis, Abelmoschus moschatus, Cyperus scariosus, Palargonium graveolens, Boswellia carterii, Rosa
damascene, Veteveria zizanoides and Commiphora myrrha were evaluated.
The essential oils of Cymbopogon winterians, Mentha piperita, Cinnamomum
zeylanicum, Melaleuca alternifolia and Eucalyptus globulus were proved
to be most effective against the fungus Trichosporon ovoides.
KEYWORDS:
Essential oils; Piedra hair infection; antifungal activity
