Anti-Aspergillus activity of selected medicinal plants

Abstract

BackgroundAs described in Unani and Ayurveda, herbal medicines are sources of treating the morbid conditions. The drugs that obtained from trees, shrubs or herbs contribute about 25 percent of the total prescription drugs. Antimicrobial potential of ten medicinal plants i.e. Picrorhiza kurroa, Datura metel, Acacia catechu, Cissus quadrangularis, Cassia tora, Berberis aristata, Pongamia pinnata, Emblica officinalis, Saraca asoca and Tinospora cordifolia was evaluated against three fungal strains of. Aspergillus i.e. Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger. MethodsCrude extracts were prepared using Soxhlet extraction and aqueous extraction methods. Total sixty extracts of ten different plants were screamed for antifungal activity using microbroth dilution assay, disc diffusion assay and spore germinatery inhibitory assay. Results & discussionPercent yields of petroleum ether and chloroform extracts of plant leaves was found to be in the range of 0.80–2.98%. Percent yields of acetone, methanol and water extract were found to ranging from 2.87 to 5.77%. Minimum inhibitory concentration of extracts was determined by microtiter dilution assay. Water extract of S. asoca showed maximum activity against A. fumigatus (0.65 mg/ml). The extracts with MIC ranging from 2.5 mg/ml to 0.65 mg/ml were further evaluated for their potential using disc diffusion assay. It was observed that only eight out of sixty plants extracts were found to be endowed with antifungal activity at a preset concentration of 25 μg/disc by disc diffusion assay. Maximum zone of inhibition at this concentration was 13.2 ± 0.5 mm against A. fumigatus by water extract of S. asoca. ConclusionIt was observed that leave water extracts of S. asoca could be potential reservoir of bioactive compounds. Further proteomics study of the test microbes could reconnoiter potential anti-bacterial targets.