Evaluation of activities against dermatophyte fungi and against skin cancer of the alkaloid extract and glycoalkaloids of Solanum lycocarpum

Abstract

Solanum lycocarpum Saint-Hillare (Solanaceae), popularly known as "fruit of the wolf", is a plant native to Brazil very common in the Brazilian Cerrado region. Furthermore, S. lycocarpum has high concentrations of steroid alkaloids, and the majority, solasonina solamargine, are substances with the potential for anticancer and antifungal activities. The dermatophytes are the most common causative agents of superficial mycoses in humans and animals, infecting only the stratum corneum of the skin, hair and nails. Skin cancer is the most frequent representing about 25% of all malignant tumors reported in Brazil. It should be noted that a topical formulation has been developed by the group for use against skin cancer. Thus, considering that saponins in general, have antifungal activity, the formulated product certainly has the potential for the treatment of dermatophytoses. The fruits of the species S. lycocarpum will be collected, dried, crushed and subjected to acid-base extraction. The glycoalkaloids, solasonina solamargine and will be isolated by column chromatography on flash type and repurificados preparative HPLC. Tests must be made for antifungal activity with the strains M. gypseum, M Canis, T. mentagrophytes and T. rubrum and testing for activity against skin cancer in hairless mice in vivo using the formulation prepared beforehand. The efficacy of the formulation will be assessed by analysis of the morphological and histological characteristics of the tissues from animals treated with negative controls. As for antifungal activity, the results will be weighed against the positive and negative controls. (AU)