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Anti-dermatophytic activity of Salvia nilotica methanolic crude leaf extract against Trichophyton mentagrophytes

Conventional medicine used against dermatophytosis has resulted in treatment failure, relapses of the fungal infection and side effects due to its use. Herbalist in the Tugen community in Kenya claim that Salvia nilotica leaves have anti-dermatophytic effects but there is no scientific documentation for these claims. This study determined the phytochemical constituents in Salvia nilotica methanolic crude leaf extract, its anti-dermatophytic activity against Trichophyton mentagrophytes and probable mode of action through the effects on metalloprotease 2 (MEP2), sulphite efflux pump (SSU1), subtilisin 3 (SUB3) and dipeptidyl-peptidases V (DDPV) target genes. The phytochemical constituents of S. nilotica leaf extract were determined using standard methods. Food-poisoned technique was used to determine the anti-dermatophytic activity of extract at different concentrations ranging from 7.76 mg/mL to 77.59 mg/mL versus the standard, fluconazole. Comparative CT analysis of real time quantitative PCR data was utilized for gene expression analysis. The Phytochemical-rich Salvia nilotica leaf extract was found to have anti-dermatophytic activity against Trichophyton mentagrophytes which was not significantly different (p < 0.05) when compared with fluconazole treatments. In addition, MEP2, SSU1, SUB3, and DPPV genes of Trichophyton mentagrophytes were down regulated by different folds by the extract. This study has shown that Salvia nilotica crude leaf methanolic extract could offer a potential alternative medicine for dermatophytosis treatment.