Antifungal activities of a steroid from Pallavicinia lyellii, a liverwort

Abstract

<b>Objective:</b> To determine the <i> in vitro</i> antifungal activity of <i> Pallavicinia lyellii</i> , a liverwort and to obtain clues about the active principle(s) and toxicity, if any.<br><b> Materials and Methods: </b> The <i> in vitro</i> antifungal activity of <i> P. lyellii</i> was studied against four test fungi (<i> A. niger, A. fumigatus, F. oxysporum </i> and <i> C. albicans</i> ) using disc diffusion and direct dilution methods. Water, alcohol, and hexane extracts of <i> P. lyellii </i> were<i> </i> tested and the most active alcohol extract was subjected to sequential solvent fractionation. The promising hexane fraction was subjected to thin layer chromatography on silica gel and each spot on the gel was tested for activity and the active spot was chemically analyzed. The alcohol extract was evaluated for its short-term toxicity in mice.<br><b> Results: </b> Water, alcohol, and hexane extracts of <i> P. lyellii</i> showed varying levels of activity against the test fungi; the alcohol extract exhibited maximum activity. Out of the 4 test fungi<i> , A. fumigatus </i> was found to be the most sensitive<i> .</i> The alcohol extract was devoid of conspicuous short-term toxicity to mice. An active hexane fraction was separated from alcohol extract and from this fraction a steroid component with remarkable antifungal activity was isolated using thin layer chromatography (TLC). <br><b> Conclusion: </b> From <i> P. lyellii</i> a steroidal fraction with remarkable <i> in vitro </i> antifungal activity has been isolated. Further, the extract is devoid of conspicuous toxicity based on short-term toxicity evaluation in mice.<br>