Abstract

ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF NIGELLA SATIVA AND LAWSONIA INERMIS AND ITS COMPARATIVE STUDY

Rajashri R. Thigle, Sachin A. Nitave

Abstract

Human fungal infections are uncommon in healthy persons. However in immunodeficient persons a no. of mild or non pathogenic fungi can cause fatal infection. Aspergillus can infect lungs, inner ear sinuses. Infection caused by it called as aspergillosis. Candida is normal flora but can infect immune compromised host. It is leading cause of nosocomial infection. It’s infection is called as candidosis. Cryptococcus cause systemic infection like meningitis. Constant exposure to fungal spores of it in atmosphere can also induce respiratory allergies. Commonly it is called as cryptococcosis. Fungal infection that is mycoses are still difficult to treat by drug treatment. Being eukaryotes fungi are not amenable to treat with antibiotics. In present investigation the antifungal activity of Nigella sativa and Lawsonia inermis were tested on different strains of fungi such as Candida, Aspergillus and Cryptococcus. The antifungal activity is tested by disc diffusion method. The activity of both is compared and it is found that aqueous extract of Lawsonia inermis has better activity than Nigella sativa.

Keywords: Antifungal, Disc diffusion method, Nosocomial, Aspergillosis, Candidosis.