In-vitro Studies: Antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger
Antimicrobial activity of different homoeopathic drugs and their potencies against ‘Aspergillus niger’ In vitro.
Prajapati S, et al. Ind J Res Hom, 2019, 13, 3, 150-8.
This study was undertaken with the aim to explore the antimicrobial effect of different homeopathic drugs and its potencies against Aspergillus niger, a fungus that is commonly found in soil and decaying plant material. It can cause infections in people with weakened immune systems.
15 homeopathic mother tinctures and their potencies (3x, 6x, 12x) were tested for their biological activity against the human pathogenic fungi A. niger using disc diffusion method according to clinical and laboratory standard (CLSIM44-A) with slight modifications.
The diameter of zone of inhibition was measured and compared with vehicle control (Alcohol 90%).
The experiment was performed twice to check the reproducibility. Marked antifungal activity was observed with mother tincture of Zingiber officinale; the growth of A. niger was inhibited and showed maximum zone of inhibition up to 15.4 ± 2.88 mm followed by Holarrhena antidysenterica (13.2 ± 1.09) and Terminalia chebula (10.6 ± 1.14).
Different potencies (3x, 6x and 12x) were also exhibited significant zone of inhibition, especially Allium cepa 6x (10.4 ± 0.89), Caesalpinia bonducella 6x and 12x (12.8 ± 0.54 and 10.4 ± 1.14, respectively), Eucalyptus globulus 12x (11.3 ± 1.94), Ruta graveolens 12x (15.0 ± 2.23), Thuja occidentalis 6x (10.8 ± 0.83), and Zingiber officinale 3x and 6x (13.0 ± 2.73 and 11.4 ± 2.30, respectively) as compared to control.