Screening of some medicinal plants for Antifungal Activity

Author: Yadav S.G. Department of Botany, Shivaji Mahavidyalaya, Renapur Dist. Latur (413527) M.S.India

Published On: 2022-09-28

In India pesticides are used for crop protection as extensively as to the extent using nearly 85,000 tonnes annually. Several fungicides like Thiram, Carbendazim, and Nabem are used for plant protection. In this study an attempt was made to evaluate anti fungal assay of crude extract of some medicinal plants, which are very common in our area. The extract tested; possess various degree of aniti fungal activity. Medicinal plants exhibit anti fungal activity since they contain innumerable biological active (compound) chemical constituents. Plants selected for anti fungal assay are commonly present. These plants include Lantana indica, Ailanthus excelsa, Annona squamosa. The collected plants were identified with the help of flora of Madras Presidency. From the collected plants Lantana indica, Ailanthus excelsa were used for the evaluation of anti fungal properties. The plants were shade dried and then powdered and crude extract, alcoholic extract were prepared. Send Mycoflora of Groundnut, Jawar and Tur were isolated by blotter paper method. The fungi associated with seed are Aspergillus, Fusarium, Rizopus, Pencillium, Alternaria, Cladosporium, Curvularia, Cephalosporium etc. The seeds are treated with these plant extracts for 5, 10 & 15 min., the seeds treated the Lantana indica inhibit the growth of many dominant fungi like Fusarium, Alternaria, Cladosporium, Curvularia etc. From this study it is noted that the plant extracts are used as antifungal agents and these plants extracts are not hazardous as like Pesticides.