en Herbal Drugs پژوهشي Research <span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><strong>Objective:</strong> This study aimed to evaluate the antifungal activity of aqueous leaf extracts of <em>Mitracarpus hirtus</em> against dermatophytes isolated from patients with clinically diagnosed ringworm.<br> <strong>Methods:</strong> Fresh <em>M. hirtus</em> leaves were collected, extracted in water, and subjected to phytochemical screening. Dermatophytes were isolated from skin scrapings of patients in Birnin Kebbi and identified using morphological and microscopic techniques. The antifungal activity of the extracts was assessed in vitro using the agar well diffusion method at concentrations of 20, 40, 80, and 100 mg/mL. Ketoconazole (5 mg/mL) was used as a positive control.<br> <strong>Results:</strong> Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, and cyanogenic glycosides, while glycosides and volatile oils were absent. A total of 34 dermatophyte isolates were recovered, with <em>Trichophyton mentagrophyte</em> (29.4%) being the most prevalent, followed by <em>T. beigelii</em>, <em>Microsporum canis</em>, <em>Epidermophyton floccosum</em>, and <em>T. rubrum</em>. The extract exhibited a concentration-dependent antifungal effect, with inhibition zones ranging from 12 mm at 20 mg/mL to 26 mm at 100 mg/mL. The highest activity was observed against <em>T. rubrum</em> and <em>M. canis</em>, while <em>E. floccosum</em> showed the least susceptibility.<br> <strong>Conclusion:</strong> <em>M. hirtus</em> aqueous leaf extract demonstrates significant antifungal activity against common dermatophytes, supporting its ethno medicinal use. The findings highlight its potential as a natural source for antifungal drug development. Further studies focusing on the isolation of active compounds, elucidation of mechanisms of action, and clinical validation are recommended to develop standardized, plant-based antifungal therapies.<br> <span style="line-height:107%"><span sans-serif=""><span style="line-height:107%"><span new="" roman="" times=""><img alt="" src="./files/site1/images/copuediting.png" ></span></span></span></span><br> &nbsp;</span></span> ,Mitracarpus hirtus,Antifungal activity,Dermatophytes,Phytochemical screening,Ringworm infections 0 0 http://pbp.medilam.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1518-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Farida Abubakar farida.abubakar@ksusta.edu.ng 10031947532846006015 10031947532846006015 Yes Department of Microbiology, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology Aliero, Nigeria. Shamsudeen Muhammad deenshams2000@gmail.com 10031947532846006016 10031947532846006016 No Department of Microbiology, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology Aliero, Nigeria Musa Isah 10031947532846006017 10031947532846006017 No Department of Microbiology, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology Aliero, Nigeria Amina Muhammad 10031947532846006018 0009-0003-5126-5439 No Department of Microbiology, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology Aliero, Nigeria Adamu Almustapha Aliero 10031947532846006019 10031947532846006019 No Department of Microbiology, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology Aliero, Nigeria Sadiq Riskuwa 10031947532846006020 10031947532846006020 No Department of Microbiology, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology Aliero, Nigeria