Antimycotic effect of Melaleuca alternifolia on cutaneous mycosis

Cutaneous fungi in human infections are serious medical threat. Recently, based on reports, numerous fungal species were regarded as natural contaminants. Generally, researchers and other clinicians in the field have deemed it fit and worthy that new potent, effective and safe antifungal drugs are needed. This study reports the antifungal activity of the aqueous extract of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) leaves, using the standard drugs, ketoconazole as the positive control. Antifungal assay was done using Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institutes (CLSI) procedures against isolates such as yeast; Rhodoturular and moulds; Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus fumigatus. The results showed significant zone of inhibitions (>12 mm and <25 mm diameter) for Melaleuca alternifolia compared to ketoconazole (>5 mm and <19 mm). Cytotoxic test of the crude extract using tadpoles produced mortality of 18 ± 2.50 % at the lowest concentration of 21.9 µg/ml, and 55 ± 3.40 % at the highest concentration of 175 µg/ml over a 24hour period. The phytochemical screening of the extract showed the presence of tannins, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, cardiac glycosides and terpenes. The in vitro antifungal activities gave remarkable effect on the selected fungi isolates. The remarkable antifungal activity shown by Melaleuca alternifolia methanol extract, against yeast and moulds, suggested its usefulness as a natural antifungal agent for the treatment of some cutaneous mycoses with no cytotoxic effect, and also highlights its significance use as potential healthcare product in pharmaceutical formulations when adopted.