Antifungal and antioxidant properties of chloroform soluble compounds of fennel seeds

Abstract

Bio-pesticides are replacing chemicals being their potential alternatives. The present study was conducted to evaluate the antifungal effect of chloroform soluble fractions of Foeniculum vulgare seeds against seed rotting Aspergilli; Aspergillus flavus, A. welwitschia, A. minisclerotigenes and A. oryzae. Effect was determined in term of inhibition in fungal biomass production, total content of cellular proteins and enzymatic rate of catalase and peroxidase. Maximum growth inhibition was recorded for A. flavus where extract of F. vulgare reduced 97.29 % fungal dry weight without significantly affecting the total cell protein content as well as the catalase and peroxidase enzymatic activities. Seed extract caused 92% inhibition in the mycelial growth of A. minisclerotigenes over the control treatment, reduced the cell protein content to 1.25 from 1.57 mg/g FW. However catalytic and peroxidase activities increased about three and two times, respectively. Under the stress by seed extract, A. welwitschia mycelial weight suppression was almost 72%, total protein content increased to two folds and catalase and peroxidase activities decreased significantly. Effect of chloroform seed extract of F. vulgare was found to be insignificant on growth and selected physiological attributes of A. oryzae.