Mycoses. 2003 Feb; 46(1-2): 29-37.

Inhibition of human pathogenic fungi by ethnobotanically selected plant extracts.

Ficker CE, Arnason JT, Vindas PS, Alvarez LP, Akpagana K, GbÃ©assor M, De Souza C, Smith ML.

Biology Department, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

In this study, 36 extracts derived from 29 plant species selected using an ethnobotanical approach were tested for antifungal activity against a taxonomically diverse group of 13 human pathogenic fungi. We compared the inhibitory characteristics of these plant extracts with those of the commonly used antifungals, amphotericin B and ketoconazole, and the plant-derived antifungal, berberine. Several plant extracts, notably those from Zingiber officinale (ginger) and Juglans cinerea (butternut), had pronounced antifungal activity against a wide variety of fungi, including strains that were highly resistant to amphotericin B and ketoconazole. Further exploration of Z. officinale as an antifungal is warranted as this species is generally regarded as safe for human consumption.