Histochemical Evaluation of Some of the Effects of Annona muricata Leaf Extract on Dermatophytosis in Wistar Rats: A Pilot Study

Aims: This study was carried out to investigate the antifungal activity of the aqueous leaf extract of Annona muricata (A. muricata), and to analyze its effects on growth and morphology of Trichonphyton rubrum (T. rubrum) and Epidermophyton flocossum (E. flocossum) strains respectively.

Study Design: The gross observation, histological and histochemical analysis were studied for this research work.

Methodology: Twenty one (21) animals were divided into seven (7) groups, three (3) animals each were allocated to group A-G. Group A was the control, not infected and not treated (ACNINT); group B was T. rubrum-infected, and later treated with A. muricata (BTRIT); group C was E. flocossum-infected, and later treated with A. muricata (CEFIT); group D was T. rubrum-infected without treatment (DTRIWT); group E was E. flocossum-infected without treatment (EFIWT); group F was not infected but treated with A. muricata (FNIT) and group G was T. rubrum-infected with concurrent A. muricata treatment (GTRICT). 2 ml of washed fungal organisms were spilled on shaved, cleaned and disinfected skin of the Wistar rats separately. The dermatophytes were allowed to incubate with noticeable changes, a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight of aqueous leaf extract of A. muricata were used in the treatment. Animals were sacrificed under chloroform anaesthesia in two batches; post infections (12 days) and treatment (2 weeks). Skin tissues were harvested for both histological and quantitative histochemical analysis.

Results: The histochemical study of melanoaldehyde (MDA), superioxide dismutase (SOD) and total protein (T.P) was done with tissue homogenates, there was an increase in SOD level in BTRIT & CEFIT groups with about 9.21% compared to DTRIWT & EFIWT. Also, the T.P level of BTRIT & CEFIT groups was 4.4% higher compare to DTRIWT & EFIWT. The same rise in level of MDA was recorded in infected and later treated group of BTRIT, but otherwise in CEFIT.

Conclusion: The infected and later treated group had an improved histological integrity compared to infected without treatment. It can be concluded from this study that the aqueous leaf extract of Annona muricata has some antifungal effects, though reported to be statistically insignificant in this investigation.