Antimicrobial activity of mycelial extracts of Rhizopus stolonifer against different fungal and bacterial pathogenic strains

Abstract

The aim of our research was to investigate the hidden antimicrobial potential of Rhizopus stolonifer against some selected fungal and bacterial pathogenic strains. The research work was done in the laboratory of Agricultural Chemistry, Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Agriculture University Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan during the month of May 2013. The agar well diffusion method was used. The extracts in Acetonitrile and n-hexane were used. The result of all the extracts of Rhizopus stolonifer was found to be effective against all the tested fungal pathogenic strains i.e. A. niger, A. oryzae, C. albican, P. digitatum, F. oxysporum and Bacterial pathogens P. aeruginosa, E. coli, S. aureus, S. aureus (Methicillin resistant), S. aureus (Vancomycin resistant), The result of the extracts of R. stolonifer is quite effective in Acetonitrile solvent as compared to results in n-hexane. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), of the extracts against these bacterial and fungal strains were in the range of 0.25 mg/ml. Different phytochemical analysis result indicate the presence of secondary metabolites like mycotoxin, Aflatoxin (B1, B2, G1and G2), which may be responsible for antimicrobial potential. From my result it is concluded that extracts of Rhizopus stolonifer have potential against all fungal and bacterial pathogenic strains.