Abstract

EVALUATION OF THE ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF MORINGA OLEIFERA SEEDS, LEAVES AND FLOWERS

Sahar M. Kheir, Kafi S K and Haitham Elbir

Abstract

Background: Moringa oleifera is one of multipurpose tree and rich in antimicrobial agents, that can be used for discovery of new classes of compounds that help in the treatment of microbial resistance. Materials and methods: seeds, leaves and flowers of Moringa were extracted by ether, ethanol, and water and tested for its antifungal activity using macrodilution method. Results: The nine extracts of Moringa oleifera were tested against 16 fungal isolates (Aspergillus flavus, A. fumigatus, A .terreus, A. niger, Candida albicans, C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. parapsilosis, one dermatophyte Trichophyton rubrum and Madurella mycetomatis). All of the tested organisms were resistant to seed oil type 1 and 2, leaves and flower of ether extract. It was also found to be resistant to leave water. The best extract was seed alcohol and seed water. All of the Moringa extracts irrespective of their types, in different concentrations did not inhibit the growth of all Candida species.

Keywords: Moringa oleifera (seeds, leaves and flowers), phytoconstituents, minimum effective concentration (MEC), minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC).