Abstract:
Conventional medicine used against dermatophytosis has resulted in treatment failure, relapses of the
fungal infection and side effects due to its use. Herbalist in the Tugen community in Kenya claim that
Salvia nilotica leaves have anti-dermatophytic effects but there is no scientific documentation for these
claims. This study determined the phytochemical constituents in Salvia nilotica methanolic crude leaf
extract, its anti-dermatophytic activity against Trichophyton mentagrophytes and probable mode of
action through the effects on metalloprotease 2 (MEP2), sulphite efflux pump (SSU1), subtilisin 3
(SUB3) and dipeptidyl-peptidases V (DDPV) target genes. The phytochemical constituents of S. nilotica
leaf extract were determined using standard methods. Food-poisoned technique was used to determine
the anti-dermatophytic activity of extract at different concentrations ranging from 7.76 mg/mL to 77.59
mg/mL versus the standard, fluconazole. Comparative CT analysis of real time quantitative PCR data
was utilized for gene expression analysis. The Phytochemical-rich Salvia nilotica leaf extract was found
to have anti-dermatophytic activity against Trichophyton mentagrophytes which was not significantly
different (p < 0.05) when compared with fluconazole treatments. In addition, MEP2, SSU1, SUB3, and
DPPV genes of Trichophyton mentagrophytes were down regulated by different folds by the extract.
This study has shown that Salvia nilotica crude leaf methanolic extract could offer a potential alternative
medicine for dermatophytosis treatment.