Abstract
The phytochemical screening, and in vitro antifungal activity of the inflorescence, leaf, stem and rhizome crude extracts of Costus lucanusianus J. Braun & K. Schum at concentrations 12.5-100 µg/mL were determined against 4 fungal strains; Penicillium notatum, Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus stolonifer by Agar well diffusion method. Secondary metabolites accountable for the activity observed are saponin, tannin, flavonoid, phlobatannins, reducing sugar, anthraquinones, phenol, alkaloid, resin, glycoside and terpenoids. Reducing sugar was present in all the extracts. The rhizome solvent extracts displayed the highest antifungal activity amongst the organs extracts. The inflorescence, stem and rhizome aqueous extracts displayed no activity at all concentrations. In this present study, the antifungal activity of Costus lucanusianus J. Braun & K.Schum aerial and rhizome extracts is reported. The activity shown by the plant organs justifies the use of the plant in the treatment of urinary tract infection and venereal diseases in ethnomedicine, and its usefulness in the preservation of food crops.
Highlights
Medicinal plants serves as an alternative therapy to antibiotics for many pathogenic microorganisms [1]
The results of the phytochemical screenings of the extracts revealed the presence of an array of bioactive components
C. lucanusianus rhizome solvent extracts amongst other organs extracts displayed the highest activity against tested organisms
Summary
Medicinal plants serves as an alternative therapy to antibiotics for many pathogenic microorganisms [1]. This is because they contain some important organic compounds (secondary metabolites), like carbohydrates, tannins, alkaloids, terpenes, flavonoids and steroids, which under in vitro conditions, are responsible for anti-microbial activities [2]. Medicinal plants and their herbal products usages in emerging countries, in tropical Africa for curing ailments are still in practice [3][4]. The stem grows about seven feet tall before it throws out a terminal inflorescence
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