Medical Journal of The Islamic Republic of Iran (MJIRI)

  Abstract

  Objective: Shallots are important part of the diet for many people and there is

  long-held belief in their health enhancing properties. The aim of this study was to determine antifungal activity of shallot against reference fungal strains.

  Methods: Alcoholic and aqueous extracts of shallot (Allium hirtifolium) were

  tested for in vitro antifungal activities against Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus

  flavus, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium gryseogenum, Alternaria, Microsporum canis

  and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC)

  was determined using broth macrodilution method. The effects of shallot extracts

  were also compared with those of miconazole.

  Results: Allium hirtifolium showed antifungal activity against all the

  fungi species tested with MIC values ranging from 0.058 to 0.8 mg/ml for alcoholic

  extract and 0.26 to 3.84 mg/ml for aqueous extract. The minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of alcoholic and aqueous extracts ranged from 0.1 to 12.8 mg/ml and 0.6 to 68.26mg/ml, respectively.

  Conclusions: The results indicate that crude juice of shallot has antifungal activity

  and might be promising, at least, in treatment of fungal-associated diseases from

  mentioned fungi.