ANTI-DERMATOPHYTIC ACTIVITY OF Salvia nilotica METHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT AGAINST Trichophyton mentagrophytes
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Date
2021
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Abstract
Conventional medicine used against dermatophytosis has resulted in treatment failure,
relapses of the fungal infection and side effects due to its use. Herbalist in the Tugen
community in Kenya claim that Salvia nilotica leaves have anti-dermatophytic effects
however, there is no scientific documentation for these claims. This study therefore sought
to determine the phytochemical constituents in S. nilotica methanolic crude leaf extract and
its anti-dermatophytic activity against the dermatophyte, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and
probable mode of action through the effects on Metalloprotease 2 (MEP2), Sulphite efflux
pump (SSU1), Subtilisin 3 (SUB3) and dipeptidyl-peptidases V (DDPV) target genes. The
phytochemical constituents of methanolic crude leaf extract of S. nilotica were determined
using standard methods. Food- poisoned technique was used to determine antidermatophytic activity of S. nilotica extract at different concentrations ranging from 7.76
mg/mL to 77.59 mg/mL. Plausible mode of action was determined using quantitative real
time polymerase chain reaction to establish the effect of S. nilotica methanolic leaf extract
treatment on MEP2, SSU1, SUB3 and DDPV genes of Trichophyton mentagrophytes
versus the standard drug fluconazole. Qualitative phytochemical analysis of the methanolic
crude leaf extracts of S. nilotica indicated the presence of tannins, saponins, flavonoids,
terpenoids, steroids, alkaloids, carbohydrates, amino acids and glycosides but there was
absence of phlobatannins and anthraquinones. This study also found that S. nilotica crude
leaf extract has anti-dermatophytic activity against Trichophyton mentagrophytes. The
activity of crude leaf extract of S. nilotica on Trichophyton mentagrophytes was not
significantly different (p < 0.05) when compared with fluconazole. In addition, all the
Trichophyton mentagrophytes genes, which were targeted in this study, were down
regulated by different folds depending on the concentration of the antifungal agent used.
The down regulation noted was -1.7, -1.9, -1.1 and -1.1 folds for MEP2, SSU1, SUB3, and
DPPV genes respectively at 0.30 mg/mL of fluconazole. At 0.50 mg/mL of fluconazole,
the genes were down regulated by -4.2, -2.9, -1.6 and -34.4 folds for MEP2, SSU1, SUB3
and DPPV respectively. S. nilotica at 13.97 mg/mL down regulated the target genes by -1,
-1.2, -1.2 and -38.4 folds for MEP2, SSU1, SUB3, and DPPV genes respectively. Similarly
at the concentration of 77.59 mg/mL of S. nilotica the genes were down regulated by -1.3, -
7.9, -2.3 and -2211.8 folds for MEP2, SSU1, SUB3 and DPPV respectively. In conclusion,
this study has shown that S. nilotica crude leaf methanolic extract could offer a potential
alternative medicine for dermatophytosis treatment.