Antifungal capacity of aqueous extracts of ilex paraguariensis fruitsagainst dermatophite fungi

Increasing resistance to antifungal agents and the toxicity of currently available antifungal agents has stimulated the development of new compounds with antifungal action of natural origin. Numerous scientific studies have reported on the biomedical and pharmacological properties of the de-rivatives of Ilex paraguariensis (Yerba mate). Very few scientific studies have been conducted on the phytochemical and/or pharmacological properties of its fruits, and practically none on its antimicrobial capacity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro antifungal capacity of aqueous extracts of I. paraguariensis fruits on dermatophyte fungi. Strains isolated from clinical samples of Trichophyton men-tagrophytes complex, Trichophyton rubrum, Microsporum canis, Trichophyton tonsurans and Nannizzia gypsea were used. To evaluate the antifungal capacity of the aqueous extract of yerba mate (EAFYM), a stock solution of 500 mg/ml was prepared. The quantitative microdilution method was applied in RPMI broth. A fungal inoculum of 1-3 x103 CFU/ml was used. Controls for fungal growth, sterility and commercial reference antifungals were performed. Cultures were incubated for 96 h at 35 °C. The minimum concentration of EAFYM that produced complete inhibition of fungal growth was determined by visual observation and subsequent puncture on solid medium. It is concluded that EAFYM has in vitro antifungal activity against the dermatophyte strains studied, ranging from 31.25 to 125 mg/ml.