In Vitro Evaluation of Antifungal Activity of Three Traditionally Used Medicinal Plants; Umbilicus Intermedius Boiss, Cuminum Cyminum and Zingiber Officinale Extracts

Background and Aims: The study aimed to determine the effectiveness of three medicinal plant extracts on fungi with three methods and to compare methods.  Material and methods: This study examined the antifungal properties of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L), ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) and Nafe Venus (Umbilicus intermedius boiss) extracts against fungi including, Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., Mucor spp., Stemphylium spp., Drechslera spp., Alternaria spp., Cladosporium spp., and Aureobasidium pullulans. Furthermore, 17 candida isolates including, C. albicans, C. glabrata and C. dubliniensis were tested. In the present study two methods of disc diffusion method, agar wells diffusion method were used for assay. Then, the mixing with culture medium method was used for assessment of the antifungal activity of extracts against Alternaria sp.(as black mold), A. terreus (as hyaline mold) and C. albicans (as yeast) to compare methods as well. Results: No fungi were susceptible to extracts in disc diffusion method and agar wells diffusion method. But, this study showed that in mixing with culture medium method, cumin extract has valuable anti-fungal property and Umbilicus intermedius boiss has the inhibitory properties against the black fungi. Furthermore, it is found that mixing with culture medium method is more efficient than disc and agar well diffusion methods. Alternaria sp. and C. albicans were susceptible and resistant to all extracts.  Conclusions: it is found that mixing with culture medium method is more efficient than disc and agar well diffusion methods and inhibitory potency of the extracts varies according to the type of extraction and their concentration.