In vitro evaluation of the susceptibility of dermatophytic and saprophytic fungi to Pistacia vera's pericarp extract

Backgrouns: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of Pistacia vera's pericarp extract on some common dermatophytic and saprophytic fungi of Iran and identifying its probable role to be used instead of chemical drugs. After collecting pericarp of Pistacia vera, drying and making it powder, extracts were obtained by using Percolation method with methanol and n-Hexan. To evaluate the anti-fungal activity of the extract, different dilutions of the extract (30-600 mg/ml) were prepared and tested against each fungus and Minimum Inhibition Concentration (MIC) was measured via disc diffusion & broth dilution methods. The tested fungi were three types of dermatophytes (Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum canis, Epidermophyton floccosum) and two types of saprophytes (Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans). The results showed that n-Hexan extract in disc diffusion method has no significant effect on the fungi, but it could inhibit Epidermophyton floccosum growth in 337mg/ml dilution and Microsporum canis growth in 450mg/ml dilution. For methanolic extract in broth dilution method, 60mg/ml was inhibitor for Epidermophyton floccosum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes and 240mg/ml dilution for Microsporum canis growth. In disc diffusion method we had 17 millimeter inhibitory zone around the pure extract in Trichophyton mentagrophytes. This extract had no anti-fungal effect against Aspergillus niger, but inhibited the growth of Candida albicans in 120mg/ml dilution and also calculated MBC for Candida albicans was 600mg/ml. Our research showed Pistacia vera's pericarp extract has different anti-fungal effects on experimented fungi.