Antifungal and phytochemical screening of some Nigerian medicinal plant extracts against toxigenic Aspergillus flavus

Abstract

In vitro study of ethanolic, cold and hot-water extracts of Cymbopogon citratus, Moringa oleifera, Ocimum gratissimum and Clerodendrum volubile was determined against toxigenic Aspergillus flavus. The antifungal efficacies of the medicinal plants were investigated using agar well diffusion technique and minimum inhibitory concentration. The phytochemical constituents of the plants were also investigated. It was observed that, hot-water extract of C. citratus was most effective against toxigenic A. flavus, cold water extract of M. oleifera was effective against toxigenic A. flavus, the most antifungal effect of O. gratissimum and C. volubile were efficient using ethanolic extraction method. One thousand milligrams per millilitres concentration of these plant extracts had inhibitory effect on toxigenic A. flavus. The results of phytochemical screening of the plant extracts for the detection of volatile oil, glycoside, tannins and saponins shows that saponin and tannin, were detected in the ethanolic, cold and hot-water extract of M. oleifera, O. gratissimum and C. volubile. These result of the research indicates that ethanolic extracts of M. oleifera, O. gratissimum and C. volubile are used to cure infections caused by toxigenic A. flavus and the extracts may have role as pharmaceutical and preservatives.