Dose-dependent antifungal activity of Citrullus colocynthis seed extracts against dermatophytes and filamentous fungi

This study investigated the antifungal activity of aqueous, ethanolic, and acetone seed extracts of Citrullus colocynthis against Epidermophyton Floccosum and Aspergillus niger. The extracts were prepared using standard extraction methods and evaluated using the poisoned food technique at concentrations ranging from 25 to 200 mg/mL.The results demonstrated a clear concentration-dependent increase in antifungal activity for all extracts. The ethanolic extract exhibited the highest inhibitory effect against both fungal species, achieving complete inhibition at 100 and 200 mg/mL. In contrast, the aqueous extract showed the lowest activity. E. floccosum was more susceptible to the extracts than A. niger, indicating differences in fungal sensitivity.The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the ethanolic extract was 50 mg/mL for both fungi, while the acetone and aqueous extracts showed MIC values of 100 mg/mL. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, resins, and coumarins, which may contribute to the observed antifungal activity.In conclusion, Citrullus colocynthis seed extracts, particularly the ethanolic extract, exhibit significant antifungal potential in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting their possible application as natural antifungal agents. Further studies are required to identify and quantify the active compounds responsible for this activity.