Abstract
OBJECTIVE. To analyze and determine the in vitro antifungical activity of the ethanolic extract of the leaves of Solanum hispidum Pers. MATERIALS AND METHODS. We carried out a preliminary qualitative phytochemical analysis by color and precipitation reactions. We evaluated the in vitro antifungical activity against Candida albicans, Aspergillus brasilensis and Trichophyton mentagrophytes by using the agar well diffusion method and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay. RESULTS. Preliminary qualitative phytochemical analysis showed the presence of phenolic compounds, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, alkaloids and saponins. In vitro antifungal activity was demonstrated for all fungal cultures with inhibition halos between 23 to 26 mm. The MIC values were 125, 250, and 125 μg/mL for C. albicans, A. brasilensis, and T. mentagrophytes, respectively. CONCLUSIONS. The ethanolic extract of the leaves of Solanum hispidum Pers. contains important secondary metabolites and has moderate antifungical activity.