Purpose: The aim of this study was to formulate the hexane extract of the leaves of
Morinda morindoides
(Baker) Milne-Redh (Rubiaceae) as soap and evaluate its antifungal
activity against fungal isolates of human origin.
Method: The hexane extract of
Morinda morindoides was incorporated as an antifungal agent in soap (SMM) and tested against 4 strains of dermatophytes
(
Candida albicans
,
Trichophyton rubrum
,
Trichophyton mentagrophytes
and
Aspergillus fumigatus
)
using basic soap (BS) as control. Agar dilution method at serial concentrations ranging from 125 mg/ml to 3.9 mg/ml was used for the determination of the antimicrobial parameters - MIC
(minimum inhibitory concentration) and IC
50 (concentration producing 50 % inhibition) for these strains.
Result: The growth of all fungal strains tested was inhibited by the
Morinda morindoides extract soap (SMM) at MIC of 31.25 mg/ml. On the other hand, basic soap (control)
inhibited
Candida albicans at MIC of 125 mg/ml and at MIC of 62.50 mg/ml for the other 3 strains tested. Thus, SMM showed stronger antifungal activity against the strains tested
than the control (basic soap).
Conclusion: The hexane extract of
Morinda morindoides leaves incorporated in soap exerted antifungal activity against the fungal strains tested. Thus, this soap
formulation may find use in the treatment of dermatomycoses.
