Anti fungal activity of metallochlorophyllins from Leucas aspera L.

Abstract

Metallochlorophyllin belongs to a group of compound, porphyrins containing a chelated metal ion in the center of the molecule. The central metal atom consists of metals like copper, magnesium, zinc etc with loss of phytol chain. The present study was to extract the metallochlorophyllin from Leucas aspera L. and to check its antifungal activity. The result shows that the metallochlorophyllins (Sodium copper chlorophyllin, Sodium magnesium chlorophyllin, Sodium zinc chlorophyllin) of Leucas aspera L. has significant anti fungal activity against Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus microsporus with Amphotericin-B (Std) 20 µg /ml as positive control. The active zone of inhibition of Sodium copper chlorophyllin was around 7-15 mm, Sodium magnesium chlorophyllin 15-22 mm, Sodium zinc chlorophyllin 6-10 mm against the pathogenic fungi. This result confirms that the medicinal value of metallochlorophyllins of Leucas aspera L. as an anti fungal sources.