ANTIFUNGAL EFFECTS OF ALPHA-TERTHIENYL FROM TAGETES-PATULA ON 5 DERMATOPHYTES

Alpha-terthienyl (alpha T), a thiophene compound isolated from Tagetes patula (Asteraceae), exhibits antifungal activity towards five strain s of dermatophytes (Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T. rubrum, T. violace um, Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum cookei). alpha T plus UVA ir radiation for 90 min acted as a fungistatic at concentrations between 6 mu M and 24 mu M Between 1 and 10 days after irradiation, the fungal growth was reduced or arrested with marked responses for T. mentagrop hytes, T. rubrum and M. cookei. The ultrastructural events that occur in Trichophyton mentagrophytes after treatment were studied by electro n microscopy. In the dark, alpha T caused no important ultrastructural . modifications within the hyphae. After WA irradiation the photoactiv e compound caused damage to membranes of the nucleus, mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. Plasmolytic and autolytic changes resulted in plasma membrane breakage and in cell wall aberrations. UVA-activated a lpha T would appear to target protein-rich membranes of the dermatophy tes.