Planta Med 2009; 75(14): 1517-1520
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1185810
Pharmacology
Letter
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Ultrastructural Changes on Clinical Isolates of Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Microsporum gypseum Caused by Solanum chrysotrichum Saponin SC-2

Edgar Oliver López-Villegas1 , Armando Herrera-Arellano2 , María de los Ángeles Martínez-Rivera1 , Laura Álvarez3 , Magally Cano-Nepauseno1 , Silvia Marquina3 , Aída Verónica Rodríguez-Tovar1 , Jaime Tortoriello2
  • 1Escuela Nacional de Ciencia Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
  • 2Centro de Investigación Biomédica del Sur, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Xochitepec, Morelos, Mexico
  • 3Centro de Investigaciones Químicas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
Further Information

Publication History

received January 8, 2009 revised May 11, 2009

accepted May 14, 2009

Publication Date:
23 June 2009 (online)

Abstract

Worldwide, dermatophytoses represent a high percentage of all superficial mycoses. The most frequently isolated dermatophyte is Trichophyton rubrum. Solanum chrysotrichum is a vegetal species widely used in Mexican traditional medicine to treat skin infections; its extract has been used to formulate an herbal medicinal product that is used successfully to treat tinea pedis. Spirostanic saponin SC-2 from S. chrysotrichum possesses high activity against dermatophytes. The present study reports the ultrastructural changes observed by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in clinical isolates of T. rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, and Microsporum gypseum induced by saponin SC-2. Strains were grown in RPMI 1640 containing SC-2 (1600 µg/mL). Fungi were harvested at 6, 12, 24, and 48 h; controls without SC-2 were included. T. mentagrophytes was the most susceptible to the SC-2 saponin, followed by M. gypseum, while T. rubrum was the most resistant. The main alterations caused by the SC-2 saponin were as follows: i) loss of cytoplasmic membrane continuity; ii) organelle degradation; iii) to a lesser extent, irreversible damage to the fungal wall; and iv) cellular death.

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Dr. Armando Herrera Arellano

Centro de Investigación Biomédica del Sur
Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social

Argentina 1

62790 Xochitepec

Morelos

Mexico

Phone: + 52 77 73 61 21 55

Fax: + 52 77 73 61 21 55

Email: armandoha_mx@yahoo.com.mx