Abstract

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.