Antifungal activity of aqueous and methanolic extracts from the Mediterranean sea cucumber, Holothuria polii

Crude extracts and semi-purified fractions (F5, F6) from the Mediterranean sea cucumber, Holothuria polii, collected from the bay of Tabarka (Tunisia coast) were evaluated for their antifungal activity against filamentous fungi and yeast. The activity was determined in vitro, using the well diffusion test in the casitone agar medium. Both the aqueous and the methanolic extracts were found to produce, in a concentration-related manner (600-1500 μg/well) a significant antifungal activity. The semi-purified fractions (F5, F6) of both extracts exhibited also a significant antifungal activity in a concentration-related manner (150-300 μg/well). The strains of Aspergillus fumigatus were more susceptible to these extracts and derived fractions, while those of Trichophyton rubrum were found to be less susceptible. No activity was observed against strains of Candida albicans. These findings suggest that the polar active fractions (F5, F6) obtained from aqueous and methanolic extracts could contain a new antifungal compound(s). The purification and the determination of chemical structure of compound(s) of these active fractions are under investigation. © 2008 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.