Inhibition of in vitro germination and spherulation ofCoccidioides immitis byAllium sativum

An aqueous extract of a dehydrated garlic preparation with uniform consistency inhibited all eight clinical isolates of the dimorphic fungus,Coccidioides immitis. The inhibitory and lethic concentrations were in the range of 3.12–6.25 mg/ml for both the saprophytic (mold) and parasitic (spherule) forms ofC. immitis. At 6.25-mg/ml concentration, the organism lost its viability within 6 h. The conversion of arthroconidia into spherules in a chemically defined liquid medium was prevented by garlic extract diluted to 1:320 (3.12 mg/ml). The data indicate that components of garlic readily inhibited the in vitro germination and spherulation of this medically important dimorphic fungus.