Mary Jef Rose D. Orata, Marie Athena C. Ybañez (March 2012)
Philippine Science High School Western Visayas Campus – Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PSHS WVC), Brgy. Bito-on, Jaro, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
ABSTRACT
Yeasts of the genus Malassezia are known to be members of the skin microflora of humans. Fungal infections with 12, 401 cases, rank second in the record of dermatological outpatient clinic from January 2000 to December 2003 in the Philippines as seen at the DOH-RITM wherein 3, 143 (25%) out of the 12, 401 cases is pityriasis versicolor, which is caused by Malassezia furfur, is the most frequently encountered case for consultation. This study aimed to develop and characterize a topical lotion against Malassezia furfur formulated from Capsicum extract of Siling Labuyo (Capsicum frutescens L.) A total of six (6) treatments, treatment with 0% (negative control), 25%, 35%, 50%, 100% (crude Capsicum extract) and a positive control, which is a commercially available antifungal cream were swabbed on Yeast Malt Agar plates where 1.0 mm x 1.0 mm x 0.2 mm blocks of Malassezia furfur on Yeast Malt Agar culture was placed. Diameters (cm) of growth were measured after five (5) days of incubation. Percent inhibition was then calculated. Based on the results of the statistical analysis, both lotions with 50% and 35% concentrations of Capsicum extract exhibited the most favorable results according to pH, zone of growth and percent inhibition. Therefore, Capsicum extract concentration in lotion need not be raised higher than 35% to inhibit the Malassezia furfur growth with economically-effective results. However, further investigations on quality control in terms of viscosity, lotion components, etc should be made before testing on human or animal skin.