Phytochemical compositions, antifungal efficacy, and acute toxicity evaluation of <i>Vitellaria paradoxa</i> leaf extracts

The growing challenge of drug-resistant fungal infections necessitates the need for novel and effective therapeutic alternatives. This study investigated the phytochemical composition, antifungal activity, and acute toxicity of Vitellaria paradoxa (shea tree) leaf extracts. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts were screened for phytochemicals and tested against clinical fungal isolates using the paper disc diffusion method. Acute toxicity was assessed in mice following Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guideline 423. Both extracts contained alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, and phenols; however, saponins were present only in the aqueous extract, while glycosides and carbohydrates were exclusive to the ethanolic extract. The ethanolic extract exhibited stronger antifungal activity (15.0 ± 2.0 mm to 19.0 ± 2.0 mm) than the aqueous extract (12.8 ± 0.3 mm to 15.6 ± 0.4 mm) at 200 mg/mL Microsporum canis showed the highest susceptibility, and the ethanolic extract demonstrated comparable efficacy to fluconazole against Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis. Additionally, the ethanolic extract showed lower Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) (25 mg/mL) and MFCs (100–200 mg/mL) compared to the aqueous extract (MIC 100–200 mg/mL; limited Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFCs). No toxicity was observed at doses up to 4000 mg/kg in mice. These results highlight V. paradoxa ethanolic leaf extract as a safe and effective antifungal agent with therapeutic potential.