TREATMENT OF TINEA VERSICOLOR CAUSED BY MALASSEZIA FURFUR WITH DILL SEED EXTRACT: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Objective: Pityriasis versicolor (PV) is a superficial fungal infection of the skin characterized by changes in skin pigment due to colonization of the stratum corneum by a dimorphic lipophilic fungus of the normal flora of the skin, known as Malassezia furfur. Currently, there is no antimycotic drug against tinea versicolor with high fungicidal activity and without relapse. Methods: Dill seed hot water extract was chosen based upon preliminary studies which included different types of essential oils and other seed extracts where it produced the highest inhibition zone of 60 mm against M. furfur. Dill seed water extract antimicrobial activity was carried out by disc diffusion method. The minimal inhibitory concentration of dill extract was estimated and found to be 6 mg/ml which were used for the formulation of ointment to treat M. furfur infected albino rabbits as an animal model.Results: Topical application of Dill seed extract ointment (6 mg/g) two times daily succeeded in curing severe human tinea versicolor in a time course of 2 weeks, and with complete healing, which might be used in the treatment regimen after testing its safety. Histopathological effects of Dill seed extract ointment in treating rabbit skin declared no significant toxic effects. Conclusion: Present study indicates that dill seed extract can be used as potential candidates for preparation of antidermatophyic drug formulations and thus may be useful in the treatment of tinea versicolor inhuman.Â