EFFECT OF THE LEVAMISOLE AND THE ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF Momordica charantia LEAVES ON THE EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOPHYTOSIS IN RABBITS

Abstract

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of levamisole and ethanolic extract of Momordica charantia leaves on experimental dermatophytosis. Young rabbits, New Zealand, males, were divided in groups that received by via oral during 15 days Tween 20 (1%, control; n=5), levamisole (25 mg/kg/LP; n=4) or ethanolic extract of M. charantia leaves (EE, 10 mg/kg/LP; n=6), beginning at 15th day of Microsporum canis inoculation. Total and differential blood circulating leukocyte counts, cultive of skin and histopatological evaluation of the lesions were realized. Levamisole and EE reduced the histological eva¬luation scores of the lesions provoked by M. canis and did not change of the leukocyte counts. The treatment with levamisole promoted alterations in relation to the control (p<0.01), but not differed of the EE treatment, who did not differ to the control that received the vehicle. These results demonstrated that Levamisol has the better performance, emphasizing its imunomodulator potential, while EE of M. charantia has a promising effect, indicating an alternative of treatment on dermatophytosis induced by M. canis. KEY-WORDS: Cucurbitaceae, imunomodution, levami¬sole, Microsporum canis, Momordica charantia.