PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF CLEOME RUTIDOSPERMA PLANT EXTRACTS
Mullai Nila K. and Karthikeyan J.*
Abstract
Antifungal activity of Cleome rutidosperma methanol and aqueous leaf
extract was studied against Aspergillus niger, Mucor indicus and
Rhizopus microsporus. The preliminary phytochemical studies were
performed and the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, cardiac
glycosides, protein, tannin, phenols and carbohydrates in the methanol
extract and phenol, saponins and protein were found in aqueous
extract. The antifungal activity was performed using disc diffusion
method at various concentration of 25mg/ml, 50mg/ml and 100mg/ml
of extracts and the zone of inhibition was measured after 48h of
incubation. The results observed in the methanolic leaf extract are
comparatively higher with reference to positive control Clotrimazole. In aqueous extract
minimal or no zone of inhibition was observed. Antifungal activity of the methanolic extract
may be due to the presence of phenolic compounds. Hence, the separation and purification of
fungicidal compounds from Cleome rutidosperma may throw light on the identification of
potential antifungal agent.
Keywords: Cleome rutidosperma, antifungal activity, Aspergillus niger, Mucor indicus, Rhizopus microsporus, phenolic compounds.
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