Fenugreek in Management of Immunological, Infectious, and Malignant Disorders
Dilip Ghosh, Prasad Thakurdesai in Fenugreek, 2022
Malassezia spp. (especially Malassezia furfur) are the yeasts capable of causing cutaneous ailments such as seborrheic dermatitis, resulting in increased cell turnover, scaling, and inflammation in the epidermis, called dandruff (Saunte, Gaitanis, and Hay 2020). Recently, ethanolic and aqueous extracts of fenugreek leaves exhibited potent antifungal activity against clinical isolate and commercial strain of M. furfur, along with other pathogenic fungi such as C. albicans and Aspergillus niger (Kulkarni et al. 2019). In the same study, the gel formulation prepared from 30% aqueous fenugreek leaf extract showed a protective effect against M. furfur infections in New Zealand rabbits (Kulkarni et al. 2019). Thus, the topical gel formulation containing fenugreek leaf aqueous extract can provide effective and safe herbal treatment for various cutaneous fungal infections, including dandruff (Kulkarni et al. 2019).
Papulosquamous Skin Disorders in HIV Infection
Clay J. Cockerell, Antoanella Calame in Cutaneous Manifestations of HIV Disease, 2012
Like almost all of the diseases in the papulosquamous category, the exact etiology of SD remains a mystery. Many theories have been put forward from infectious etiologies to altered sebum, neurologic, and endocrine regulation.3,37 Up to this date though, it appears that the strongest evidence is in the favor of yeasts being a major causative factor. Yeasts from the genus Malassezia have been linked to SD for many years and they have been regularly isolated from lesions.2,6 Although the number of Malassezia in normal controls does not differ significantly from those with the disease, it is clear that decreased numbers of the yeasts correlate with increasingly efficacious treatment.6,39 This insignificant difference in the skin flora of patients with SD as compared to normal controls has been confirmed and corroborated in the HIV-positive population as well.39 The exact mechanism by which they cause or exacerbate SD has remained elusive. This may be due to an immune response to Malassezia.6,39 The frequency and recalcitrance of SD in the HIV population has bolstered this idea, but again, no studies have been definitive.40 In the past, some believed SD might be linked to changes in skin surface lipids. Multiple studies in both HIV-positive and negative patients, however, have not verified this.39
Scalp Psoriasis
John Y. M. Koo, Ethan C. Levin, Argentina Leon, Jashin J. Wu, Mark G. Lebwohl in Mild to Moderate Psoriasis, 2014
The second phase is active clearing treatment. The first-line approach is a vitamin D3 solution or emulsion once a day and a superpotent topical corticosteroid in a vehicle that is well accepted by the patient once a day. If this approach is not effective after eight weeks or not appreciated for reason of intolerance, a superpotent topical corticosteroid may be combined with UVB therapy. To optimize phototherapy of the scalp, a hair blower or a UVB fiber comb can be used. Another alternative for the second phase is dithranol and tar-based treatments at a day care center. If all these approaches are not effective, cultures for Malassezia species should be taken, and a systemic antifungal treatment can be started. If all these treatments are not effective, a systemic antipsoriatic treatment should be considered with methotrexate, fumarates, cyclosporine, or acitretin.
The mycobiota of the human body: a spark can start a prairie fire
Published in Gut Microbes, 2020
Di Zhang, Ying Wang, Sunan Shen, Yayi Hou, Yugen Chen, Tingting Wang
Malassezia, the main mycobiota in the skin, can cause different skin infections. Pityriasis versicolor is a form of skin tinea that has a definite connection with Malassezia.108 The hyphae of Malassezia invades the skin, and its metabolites form small-scale pigmented plaques in lipid spills. Balaji and colleagues109 detected that cross-reactivity between fungal thioredoxin and human thioredoxin may related to the inflammation in the patients with atopic dermatitis. In addition, Malassezia also contributes to dandruff110 and folliculitis,111which bring stubborn trouble to the patient. Candida can also cause skin infection, named chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC),112 marked with the deficiency of IL-17. In the patient’s body, mutations in STAT1 prevent T cells from differentiating into Th17 cells and thus fail to secrete immune effectors such as IL-17, which are the key to skin resistance to Candida infection.65,68,113 Moreover, patients with autoimmune disease produce antibodies to IL-17, which impair immunity and can also trigger CMC.62
Preliminary study of the oral mycobiome of children with and without dental caries
Published in Journal of Oral Microbiology, 2019
Jacquelyn M. Fechney, Gina V. Browne, Neeta Prabhu, Laszlo Irinyi, Wieland Meyer, Toby Hughes, Michelle Bockmann, Grant Townsend, Hanieh Salehi, Christina J. Adler
Many of the fungi identified as a core of the childhood oral mycobiome are ubiquitous in the external environment and it is not unusual that they have been isolated from the oral cavity. For example, Alternaria and Cladosporium species have both been isolated from the airways and have been identified as a common airborne allergen associated with asthma [52,53]. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is commonly referred to as Baker’s yeasts and are frequently found as a harmless, transient fungus in the oral cavity and digestive tract [54]. Rhodotorula species are widespread environmental fungi but are known to be opportunistic pathogens frequently responsible for a number of infections, including infections during catheterisation, and in cases of endocarditis and peritonitis [55]. Malassezia have been identified as normal commensals of the skin, but are also known to be pathogens, responsible for an array of cutaneous diseases [56]. M. globosa has been identified in the sputum of patients with cystic fibrosis, and one of the main pathways for microorganisms to reach the airway is via the mouth [57].
Narrow-band UV-B phototherapy: an effective and reliable treatment alternative for extensive and recurrent pityriasis versicolor
Published in Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2018
Ali Balevi, Pelin Üstüner, Sümeyye A. Kakşi, Mustafa Özdemir
Malassezia furfur produces an indole alkaloid pityriacitrin which has the ability to protect this fungus against UV exposure and renders M. furfur more resistant to sun exposure (12). We have not been able to serotype Malassezia in our patients. Malassezia globosa was found to be the predominant PV isolate in Turkey (13,14). In a more recent PV study in Turkey, M. furfur was isolated in 75% of patients, followed by M. globosa (25%) (15). Twenty percent of the our patients did not respond well enough to narrow-band UV-B treatment. We think that Malassezia subspecies, which can develop UV filtration in patients with poor response to treatment, may be the factor. However, these poor responder patients were to have less severe disease as their mean clinical baseline score.
Related Knowledge Centers
- Dandruff
- Hypopigmentation
- Opportunistic Infection
- Yeast
- Lipid
- Hyperpigmentation
- Allergy Test
- Growth Medium
- Microbiological Culture
- Seborrhoeic Dermatitis