Analyzing the Antifungal Activity of Alcoholic Extract from Aerial Parts of Iranian Endemic Plant (Ferula persica Var. lactsecta)1

In developing countries, fungal infections are considered as a major problem and commonly used antifungal drugs are usually toxic and expensive or have side effects. Hence, nowadays, attempts for identifying the antifungal plant compounds for the treatment of some fungal diseases such as dermatophytosis are increasing. The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of methanolic extract of Ferula persica on Trichophyton rubrum (PTCC 5143), Trichophyton mentagrophytes (PTCC 5054) and Microsporum gypseum (PTCC 5070). The alcoholic extract of the aerial part of this plant was prepared following Soxhlet method. Two methods of disc diffusion and agar dilution in two forms of macrodilution and microdilution were used, and inhibition zone diameter, MIC80 (minimum inhibitory concentration required to inhibit 80% of fungi) and MFC (minimum fungicidal concentration) in the presence of extracts, and terbinafine were determined. Based on the obtained results, the highest inhibition zone diameter and the maximum sensitivity to extract related to Trichophyton rubrum, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Microsporum gypseum were in the second and third positions in this regard.