Echinophora platyloba DC. as a new natural antifungal agent

Echinophora platyloba DC. (Umbelliferae family) (E. platyloba) is a spiny plant with yellow flowers that in Iranian traditional medicine is used as an antifungal agent for preventing the dairy products and foods from fungi contaminations. This subject was the basis of an idea that has been supposed E. platyloba as an antifungal agent. This review investigates the studies that are designed on this idea. Also, it mentions other investigations that evaluate the other biological activities of this valuable plant. Literatures about E. platyloba were collected by electronic search and referred books on ethnopharmacology for receiving traditional records about this plant. Although, E. platyloba is a plant with many pharmacological effects but the main biological effect is their antifungal and synergistic effect with azole drugs against Candida albicans infections in vitro and in vivo studies. E. platyloba can be used as new candidates for treatment of Candida albicans infections. Other pharmacological effects should be more evaluated. Future studies should be directed on isolation and identification of antifungal sub-fractions by more precise investigations.