Survey of Associated Mycoflora and Antifungal Activity of Aquous and Ethanolic extracts of Anastatica hierochuntica L.

Abstract

Mycoflora associated with A. hirochuntica plants isolated from different parts of Egypt were screened during six monthly isolates from January to June 2018. A total of 1571 fungal colonies constituting twenty four fungal species which related to ten genera were isolated and identified. Aspergillus niger recorded the highest number among isolated fungi where 823 colonies were isolated with a relative density of 52.39 %; followed by Aspergillus flavus where 311 colonies, representing 19.80 % relative density. Only Aspergillus niger and A. flavus were recorded in all monthly isolates. Other isolated fungal species recorded relative density less than 6 %. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts (200 mg/ml) of Anastatica hierochuntica L. were assayed against isolated fungal species with the highest relative density, which were: Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, Penicillium fuscum, Stemphyllium piriforme Bonorden, Penicillium chrysogenum, Aspergillus nidulans, A. ustus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Aspergillus fumigatus and Alternaria humicola. Disc diffusion method was used in this assay. Ethanolic extract recorded inhibition zone diameters greater than that of aquous extract. MiC values of ethanolic extract of A. hierochuntica were much less than that of aquous extract; even the MIC value was not detected in some tested fungal species.