Phytochemical screening and antifungal activities of Pluchea indica leaves extract / Tuan Putri Raihanah Tuan Rosedi

This study was conducted to determine phytochemical constituent present in Pluchea indica. The antifungal activities of distilled water and methanol extracts from P. indica leaves was also performed on selected pathogenic dermatophyte such as Candida albicans, Trycophyton mentagrophytes and Malessezia spp. From the phytochemical screening that was done, it showed the presence of glycoside, saponin and phenols in P. indica leaves crude extract. Different concentrations which were 50 µg/µL, 100 µg/µL, 200 µg/µL, 400 µg/µL and 600 µg/µL were prepared from these extracts to inhibit the growth of the dermatophytes. Both distilled water and methanol extract of leaves of P. indica showed antifungal activities towards the growth of C. albicans. For T mentagrophytes, only distilled water has antifungal activities towards it and only methanol extract have antifungal activities toward Malessezia spp. Minimum inhibition concentration of distilled water and methanol crude extract in inhibiting the growth of C. albicans is 200 µg/µL with the diameter of zone of inhibition of 3.2 mm and 50 µg/µL with the diameter of zone of inhibition of 2.2 mm respectively. Minimum inhibition concentration of distilled water extract in inhibiting the growth of T mentagrophytes is 50 µg/µL with the diameter of zone of inhibition of 2.2 mm. Minimum inhibition concentration of methanol extract in inhibiting the growth of Malessezia spp. is 100 µg/µL with the diameter of zone of inhibition of 8.4 mm. Zone of inhibition showed by Malessezia spp was the largest compared to C. albicans and T mentagrophytes. Malessezia spp is the fungus that can cause dandruff, so leave of P. indica has the potential to be used as an agent to antidandruff in shampoo.