Evaluation of Antifungal Activity of Plant Extract Against Fungal Pathogen Associated with Superficial Infection

Abstract

Superficial fungal infections represent a major public health problem all over the world especially middle and low income countries. This study aimed to evaluate the antifungal activity of plant extracts against pathogenic fungi infecting the skin of school children in Gilgit-Baltistan.  Various plant extracts were obtained from locally available plant species and tested against selected pathogenic fungi using standard in vitro antifungal assays (the food poison technique). The results revealed varying degrees of antifungal activity among the plant extracts with some showing promising inhibitory effects against the targeted fungi. Statistical analysis indicated significant differences in antifungal efficacy among the tested extracts. Three fungal species, namely Tinea capitis, Tinea corporis, and Tinea pedis and five plant extracts Allium sativum, Thymus vulgaris, Azadirachta indica, Mentha piperita and Capparis spinosa at 8, 16 and 24% concentration were tested against respective species. Results showed a concentration-dependent inhibition pattern across all extracts. At 24% concentration, A. sativum exhibited the highest average inhibition across all fungi (81.2%), followed by T. vulgaris (75.9%), and A. indica (71.8%). In contrast, C. spinosa showed poor efficacy, averaging below 40% inhibition even at the highest concentration.  Overall, extracts from A. sativum, T. vulgaris, and A. indica demonstrated consistent and potent antifungal activity across all tested species and concentrations, supporting their potential for safe, plant-based antifungal formulations. These findings advocate the use of accessible herbal alternatives for managing paediatric fungal infections, particularly in resource-limited school settings. Further research involving clinical validation and formulation development is strongly recommended.