A study of the inhibitory effect of Rosemary ( Rosemarinus officinalis ) against the dermatophytes causing dermatophytosis in Al – Nassiriyah City, Thi – Qar .

Abstract

Dermatophytes cause superficial mycosis in human . Many antifungal agents and plants extracts were used for the treatment of these diseases .One hundred and eighty specimens ( skin scrapping , hair and nail fragments ) from 66 males and 114 females were collected from patients consulting in Al – Hussein Teaching Hospital in Al – Nassiriyah City . The study was conducted during the period from Augest , 2014 to December , 2014 . This study aimed to isolating and identifying the fungi causing dermatophytosis , then studying the inhibitory effect of alcoholic extract of Rosemary ( Rosemarinus officinalis ) against the isolated dermatophytes .The isolated dermatophytes were Microsporum canis , M. fulvum , M. gypseum , Trichophyton tonsurans and T. verrucosum . M. canis recorded the highest occurrence with a percentage of 36.36 % , while M. fulvum recorded the lowest occurrence percentage ( 6.36 % ) . Female infections were 74 ( 67.27 % ) cases . On the other hand only 36 ( 38.33 % ) cases recorded within males . At September , 2014 ; 69 cases recorded , but at December , 2014 ; 19 cases recorded with a percentage of 38.33 % and 10.56 % respectively . The alcoholic extract of Rosemary ( Rosemarinus officinalis ) have an inhibitory effect against the isolated dermatophytes . The highest effect of the extract with a concentration of 200 mg / ml was against T. verrucosum . The extract with concentration of 100 mg / ml have the lowest effect against M. gypseum .