Synergistic Properties of Methylxanthine with Cadmium and Mercury on Dermatophytes

BACKGROUND: Methylxanthine has many antimicrobial effects on different types of organisms. Synergism actions between methylxanthine and cadmium or mercury on dermatophytes were tested. AIMS: To determine the synergistic property between methylxanthine and cadmium or mercury on the growth of dermatophytes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two isolated strains of dermatophytes (Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Epidermophyton floccosum) that clinical isolated were treated with the mixtures of methylxanthine either with cadmium or with mercury by using colony diameter method. Percentage inhibition was also calculated based on perpendicular colony diameters of grown fungi. RESULTS: Cadmium had high ability to increase inhibitory action of methylxanthine agents on dermatophytes. Epidermophyton floccosum revealed more susceptibility to tested mixture than those of Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Mercury exhibited variable effects on dermatophytes after mixing with methylxanthine. CONCLUSIONS: Effective concentrations of methylxanthine on dermatophytes decreased in the presence of cadmium and mercury. Variable susceptibility of two species of dermatophytes to prepared mixture was noted.