Anti-yeast efficacy of Cinnamomum verum extracts on dermatologically prevalent yeast Malassezia furfur

Malassezia furfur, a lipophilic, saprophytic yeast causes superficial skin diseases such as dandruff, pityriasis versicolor, folliculitis, seborrhoeic dermatitis and some forms of atopic dermatitis. The present study was aimed to investigate anti-yeast potential of Cinnamomum verum bark extracts. The powdered plant material was extracted with water and also successively extracted with hexane, chloroform and methanol, using the soxhlet apparatus. The anti-yeast activity was screened by disc diffusion assay and MIC by microdilution method. The results revealed that hexane extract of C. verum exhibited significant anti-yeast activity with Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of 0.195 mg mL-1. Qualitative phytochemical tests of C. verum bark extracts was done using standard protocols and demonstrated the presence of phytocompounds such as alkaloids, carbohydrates, flavonoids, glycosides, naphthoquinones, phytosteroids, and terpenoids. Subsequently, high performance thin layer chromatographic analysis (HPTLC), followed by scanning of the spots at 254 nm and 366 nm using a UV detection mode and derivatization method was made to establish the phytochemical profile of C. verum. The results substantiate that hexane extract of C. verum exhibited significant activity to be used as an antimicrobial agent.