Diagnosis and in vitro antidermatophytic sensitivity of the ethanolic extract of Euphorbia tirucall / Diagnóstico e sensibilidade antidermatófita in vitro do extrato etanólico de Euphorbia tirucalli

Dermatophytosis is the most common mycosis, accounting for 5 to 10% of all superficial mycoses. The present study aimed to evaluate the in vitro antifungal activity of the ethanolic extract of Euphorbia tirucalli on clinical isolates of dermatophytes obtained from 2 patients with signs and symptoms consistent with dermatophyte infection. Two dermatophyte etiologic agents, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and T. tonsurans, were isolated from these patients. In vitro antifungal sensitivity showed that the ethanolic extract of E. tirucalli possesses antifungal activity against these strains of interest, with a Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of 125 and 250 g/mL, respectively. According to the phytochemical profile of this extract supported by infrared analysis, the antibiotic activity was attributed to the presence of flavonoids and tannins, phytoconstituents generally recognized for their pharmacological potential.