In Vitro Susceptibility of C. albicans and C. neoformens to Potential Metabolites from Streptomycetes.

Forty two Streptomycetes isolates from soils of Kodachadri region in Western ghats were recovered by soil dilution technique. Cross streak method was followed for primary screening of antifungal activity. Positive isolates were subjected to secondary screening by cold extraction of fermentation broth in butanol solvent. Six isolates exhibited broad spectrum antifungal activity against all the tested yeast pathogens like Candida albicans, Candida lipolytica, Cryptococcus neoformens and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. One isolate showed excellent antifungal activity against all test organisms with maximum zone of inhibition 60 mm each incase of C. neoformens and C. albicans. Partial characterization of antifungal metabolite by TLC resulted in a purple spot with an R(f) value 0.50. The UV absorption spectra at 218 nm indicated possible chemical nature of the active metabolite as polyene group and purity was assessed by analytical HPLC.