Planta Med 2007; 73 - P_175
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-986956

Antifungal activity of Helianthus annuus L

J Karlickova 1, L Jahodar 1, V Buchta 1, Z Rehakova 1, K Kubikova 1
  • 1Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Kralove, Heyrovkeho 1203, Hradec Kralove, CZ-50005, Czech Republic

On the basis of previous research [1] Helianthus annuus L. was selected for testing of in vitro antifungal activity.

An ethanolic extract from inflorescence (include thalamus and involucrum; INFEE) yielded two concentrated fractions – kaurenoid (IKF) with main compound ent-kaur-16-en19-oic acid) and phytosterol (IPF) with main compound stigmasterol. The same extract from leaves was fractionated into three parts -dichlormethane (LCH2Cl2), butanolic (LBuOH), ethanolic extract (LEtOH).

Microdilution broth test M27A-M1 in a microplate [2] was performed on all types of extracts and fractions (INFEE, IKF, IPF, LCH2Cl2, LBuOH, LEtOH) with 13 strains of fungi (Candida albicans ATCC 44859, C. albicans ATCC 90028, C. parapsilosis ATCC 22019, C. tropicalis 156, C. krusei ATCC 6258, C. krusei E28, C. glabrata 20/I, C. lusitaniae 2446/I, Trichosporon beigelii 1188, Trichophyton mentagrophytes 445, Aspergillus fumigatus 231, Absidia corymbifera 272, Microsporum gypseum 27339/01). The activity was evaluated as minimum inhibitory concentrations which were determined as the lowest concentrations that showed 80% growth reduction as compared with the growth of the drug-free control wells. The positive control was ketoconazole.

IKF displayed significant in vitro antifungal activity against all used fungi (the range of MIC80 0.016–0.125%). INFEE and IPF were found to be active only against Trichophyton mentagrophytes 445 (MIC80 0.031%) and Microsporum gypseum 27339/01 (MIC80 0.025%). Only the ethanolic part (LEtOH) of the crude leaf ethanolic extract showed significant in vitro antifungal activity against all used fungi (the range of MIC80 0.032–0.128%). LCH2Cl2 and LBuOH were found to be active against Trichophyton mentagrophytes 445 only (MIC80 0.064% and 0.032% respectively).

Acknowledgements: This work is supported by the Research project 118/2006/B-BIO/FaF of Charles University Grant Agency.

References: [1] Jahodar L. et al. (2003) 3rd International Symposium on Natural Drugs, Proceedings, Naples: 249. [2] National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards: NCCLS document M27-P (1992): 771E.