Antifungal activity of Essential oil Extracted from Cassia tora against Dermatophytes Collected from Infected Soil

Skin diseases, especially ringworm, are an important problem in India. It is due to different species of keratinophilic fungi. Antifungal activity of the essential oil extracted from Cassia tora (Fabaceae) was studied against dermatophytic fungi like Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum canis. Study of dermatophytes in soil samples collected from Jaipur, was carried out but only 88% samples contained dermatophytic fungi. In screening of the essential oil of Cassia tora the diameter of inhibition zone was found to be 35 mm and 25 mm for Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Microsporum canis respectively. Result show that a Minimum inhibitory concentration of essential oil of Cassia tora with reference to Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Microsporum canis were 0.5µl/ml and 0.6µl/ml respectively. Since the plants appeared to have broad spectrum of activity against dermatophytes so it could be useful in antiseptic or disinfectant formulations.