Combined activity of selenite-resistant bacteria and Pisum sativum sprout extract against Malassezia furfur: A preliminary qualitative evaluation

Abstract

Selenium has been an essential micronutrient required for human’s biological and dermatological health including prominent antifungal properties. The fungal strain Malassezia furfur is associated with skin problems such as hair scalp dryness more particularly dandruff. This preliminary evaluation involved isolation of fungal strain from dried, scaly hair scalp and identified through growth characteristics, catalase reaction and microscopic morphology. Pisum sativum sprout extract possess potential hair growth properties. The selenium treated pea sprouts and controls were grown in favorable conditions. The experimental groups were combining pea sprouts treated with selenium and selenite resistant bacterial extracts, pea sprouts treated with selenium and control with no treatment to peas and bacterial extracts alone. The findings suggest that selenium resistant bacteria treated pea sprout extract, pea sprouts treated with selenium displayed minimum inhibition against Malassezia furfur as compared to controls under tested conditions. The maximum inhibition was observed in group in which Malassezia was treated with extract of selenium resistant bacteria treated pea sprouts. Since this is an exploratory study and did not measure any quantitative inhibition, additional research is required in order to determine the effectiveness of its treatment for Malassezia infections associated with dandruff problems.