Anti-fungal Activity of Ginger Oil Against Aspergillus Fumigatus and Aspergillus Niger Causing Aspergillosis

Abstract

Aspergillosis is a common infectious disease causing many economic losses, especially poultry. Antibiotic resistance and infection recurrence attracted the researchers to find a safe and alternative anti-fungal substances instead of using the conventional antibiotics. In this work, anti-fungal activity of ginger oil in comparison to ketoconazole were evaluated against A. fumigatus and A. niger causing aspergillosis. The saxolite was used for extraction of ginger oil using n-hexan as organic solvent. Several treatments were used 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% in order to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ginger oil using the well diffusion assay. Ginger extract (15%) and ketoconazole (20%) were identified as the (MICs) against A. fumigatus. The diameter’s average of the fungal inhibition zones were 1, 3.1 and 5.2 cm when the ginger extract was used at 15%, 20%, and 25%, respectively. In addition, The diameter’s average of the Aspergillus inhibition zones were 0, 1.5, and 2.5 cm when 15%, 20%, and 25% of ketoconazole, respectively were applied. In regard to Aspergillus niger, our findings showed that 5% ginger extract was identified as the MIC. The diameter’s average of the fungal inhibition zones were 1, 3.2, 4.7, 6.2, and 7.7 cm when ginger extract was used at 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%, respectively. Moreover, The diameter’s average of the Aspergillus inhibition zones were 0.9, 1.8, 3.3, 4.9, and 6.4 cm when 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25% ketoconazole, respectively were applied. No fungal inhibition was observed when 0% of antimicrobial agents, as negative control, was used. In comparison to ketoconazol, ginger extract had higher anti-fungal properties against the growth of Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus niger. Because of its antifungal potential againsr isolated Aspergillus species, the author suggested ginger oil as a safe natural derived antimicrobial for treatment of aspergillosis.