Abstract:
Punica granatum is a valuable medicinal plant traditionally used to cure skin infections. This
study was aimed to determine the antifungal activity of P. granatum leaves against Malassezia
species which commonly causes superficial skin infections in humans.
Agar well diffusion method was performed using aqueous and methanol extracts of P. granatum
leaves against three species of Malassezia. The chosen methanol crude extract was fractionated
and the fractions were tested for antifungal activity. TLC was performed on the chosen ethyl
acetate fraction followed by contact bioautography.
Methanol crude extract and the ethyl acetate fraction of methanol crude extract exhibited the
highest antifungal activity against the tested Malassezia species. Phytochemical analysis using
TLC revealed the presence many bio-active compounds in the ethyl acetate fraction. Contact
bioautography of the detected spots of TLC indicated growth inhibitory activities in Malassezia
species. Results reveal that many phytochemicals present in P. granatum are effective against
Malassezia species.
