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Abstract
Background: Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is
commonly used as a solvent for anti-fungal drugs. It has
been reported to possess anti-fungal activity by itself so
may interfere in the evaluation and comparison of antifungal
drugs. DMSO 1% and below are usually considered
to possess insignificant effect on the growth of fungi. The
present study was aimed to determine any
additive/synergistic effect of DMSO (1%) with anti-fungal
drugs.
Methods: The effect of DMSO (1%) was determined on
the colonial growth of Trichophyton rubrum, and
Microsporum canis along with clotrimazole, griseofulvin,
ketoconazole and thymoquinone (an active principle of
Nigella sativa). Similarly, the ability of DMSO (1%) to
enhance the effect of amphotericin-B and thymoquinone
was observed on the growth of Aspergillus niger. The fungi
were grown in three sets of plates of dermasel agar for
each drug containing: (a) serial dilutions of the drug alone;
(b) serial dilutions of the drug plus DMSO 1% in each
dilution and (c) dermasel agar alone, as control.
Results: DMSO (1%) lowered the MICs of all drugs
tested against the fungi used, except amphotericin-B
against Aspergillus niger. Presence of DMSO (1%) in serial
dilutions of drugs also significantly shifted the growth
curves of fungi towards right.
Conclusion: DMSO, as a solvent, is one of the
important factors that can alter the results of antifungal
drugs.