ANTIDERMATOPHYTIC ACTIVITY OF AMINO-ACIDS - AN IN-VITRO STUDY

Ww tested the antidermatophytic activity of four amino acids against d ifferent species of dermatophytes using an in vitro method. The minimu m inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of hydroxyproline, cysteine, asparti c acid and tryptophan on different species of Trichophyton, Microsporu m and Epidermophyton floccosum of clinical origin were determined. All eight strains of E. floccosum were sensitive to the amino acids teste d, the MIC ranging from 31.25 to 62.5 mu g/ml. Strains of T. rubrum, T . mentragophytes and T. tonsurans showed uniform sensitivity, with an MIC range of 125-250 mu g/ml. M. gypseum and M. nanum were sensitive t o all four amino acids, the MIC being 500-1000 mu g/ml. All the amino acids were fungicidal in action. (C) 1998 Chapman & Hall Ltd.