Antifungal and Immunomodulatory Activity of Bryophyllum pinnatum Leaf Extracts

This study was carried out to investigate the antifungal and immunomodulatory activities of Bryophylum pinnatum. Both aqueous and ethanol solvents were used for extraction. Five fungal species including Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Cladosporium herbarium, Candida albicans and Penicillium italicum were obtained from the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and they were preliminarily identified using standard microbiological methods. Wistar rat models for the study were purchased and acclimatized for a period of two weeks. The rats were divided into five groups and orally administered with the ethanol extract of the plant while one group served as control. Antimicrobial and hematological parameters including packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin, white blood cell counts, platelets and CD4 count were assayed using standard methods. The only fungus sensitive to aqueous extract was Aspergillus niger, with zone of inhibition ranging from 6.00±0.58-11.33±0.33 mm at concentration range of 50-100 mg/ml. Mean zones of inhibition of ethanolic extract ranged from 11.67±0.67-20.33±0.33 mm against Cladosporium herbarium at concentration range of 6.25-100 mg/ml. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of ethanol extract ranged from 6.25- 50 mg/ml against fungal isolates. While MIC of aqueous extract was 50 mg/ml against susceptible fungal isolate. Minimum fungicidal concentrations of ethanol and aqueous were 25- 100 mg/ml and 100 mg/ml respectively. Significant difference was observed between the treatment and control groups in platelet counts (range: 95.40±1.86-126.20±5.40% and control: 108.60±4.19%), PCV (range: 39.00±0.71-44.20±0.58%; control: 39.00±0.71%) and hemoglobin (range:12.94±0.21-14.62±0.24 g/dl; control: 12.94±0.21 g/dl). There was no significant difference between the treatment and control groups in CD4 counts (75.40±19.32-99.00±6.33cells/ml and control 75.4±19.32 cells/ml). Bryophylum pinnatum has been shown in this work to possess both antimicrobial and hematological properties.