Application

1. Antifungal activity of Bayabas (Psidium Guajava) Leaves, Seeds, and Bark Aqueous
Extracts Against Dermatophytic fungi (Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton Mentagrophytes,
Microsporum Gypseum

2. General context:
Dermatophytic Fungi (Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton Mentagrophytes, Microsporum
Gypseum) is a common label for a group of fungus of Arthrodermataceae that commonly
causes skin disease in animals and humans. The dermatophytes are a group of fungi that are
able to damage and utilize keratin found in the skin, hair and nails. Dermatophytosis is an
infection produced by dermatophytic fungi in keratinized tissues. (Grumbt et al., 2013) Since it
was decided that the dermatophytes contracted half way across the world may become
manifested in a country in which the pathogen is not normally found because of the rapid transit,
and the increasing mobility of people. (Aho, 1988)

Describe the specific nature, extent and salience of the research problem:
Dermatophytes are fungi that require keratin for growth. These fungi can cause
superficial infections of the skin, hair and nails. Dermatophytes are spread by direct contact from
other people (anthropophilic organisms), animals (zoophilic organisms), and soil (geophilic
organisms), as well as indirectly from fomites. Dermatophytes can be further classified into
different subtypes according to their natural habitat. Anthropophilic dermatophytes, such as
Trichophyton tonsurans, are the main cause of human dermatophytosis. They are often
transmitted from one person to another or by contaminated objects, and generally cause long-
lasting infection with mild inflammation. Zoophilic dermatophytes primarily infect animals,
although they can occasionally spread to humans by direct contact. Finally, geophilic
dermatophytes grow in keratin-rich soil containing decaying feathers, horns, and hairs. Human
infection by toophilic and geophilic dermatophytes is less common and causes more severe,
inflammatory tineas. (Hainer, 2003)

Description of the current practices/interventions done:

In otherwise heathy individuals, most dermatophyte infections are not considered
serious. Mild forms of localized dermatophyte infections of the skin can be treated with topical
antifungals, such as clotrimazole because topical treatments are unable to penetrate the scalp,
tinea capitis often requires the use of oral antifungal medications, such as griseofulvin or
terbinafine. In addition. individuals with a decreased immune response or those with
inflammatory or widespread tineas may also require systemic treatment with oral antifungals in
order to resolve the infection. (Al-Janabi & Al-Khikani, 2020)
 Establishing the gap:
However, most of the antifungal drugs are outside price control, and there is a wide
inexplicable difference between brands in their retail prices. This indicates profiteering by the
companies at the cost of the patient. The behavior of drug price that is outside price control
provides strong pract that poor, ignorant choice less patients are forced to pay out of pocket
expenditure. (Indian J Pharmacol, 2012)

Proposed solution or intervention/study description:

The use of locally available Bayabas (Psidium guajava) in the rural area could be a
better alternative to overpriced antifungal drugs. Bayabas (Psidium guajava) is a plant widely
used for food and in folk medicine all over the world. Studies have shown that Bayabas
(Psidium guajava) leaves have antifungal properties.

Present objective and importance/relevance of the study as a closing statement in the

introduction:
This study aims to conduct an experimentation to find out if Bayabas (Psidium guajava)
leaves, seeds, and bark aqueous extracts will have antifungal activity against dermatophytic
fungi (Trichophyton rubrum. Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum gypseum). In this
study aqueous extracts of Bayabas (Psidium guajava) leaves, seeds, and bark were tested to
verify its antifungal potential.

References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4537868/
https://www.osmosis.org/answers/dermatophyte-infection
https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2003/0101/p101.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3523496/