In vitro antifungal activity of extracts of anastatica hierochuntica

Abstract EN

The antifungal activity of aqueous and organic(acetone and methanol) leaf extracts of Anastatica hierochuntica was evaluated a gainst some common pathogenic fungi using the paper disc diffusion method.

ALL the extracts were active against the test organisms with the methanol extracts showing the highest activity against candida albicans (28 mm zone of inhibition), Cryptococcus neoformans (24 mm zone of inhibition), fusarium oxysporum and penicillium digitatam (18 mm zone of inhibition), followed by the acetone extracts against penicillium digitatam (16 mm zone of inhibition), at 250 mg / ml.

the aqueous extracts demonstrated the lowest activity (8 mm zone of inhibition ), against penicillium digitatam and (6 mm zone of in hibition) against Aspergillus niger at 250 mg / ml.

preliminary phytochemical studies revealed that the leaves contained Hydrocarbonate, glocoberin, Aminoacid, glycoside, Asteroids, carbohydrate, flavonoid (one structure : isovitexin and four structures flavonoloids, campferol, Raminoglocozid, Rutin, Qurcetn), Alkaloids, tannins.

The activity of the extracts was stable at high temperatures and at acidic PH, but decreased at alkaline PH.

the minimum Inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of the extracts ranged between 12.5- 150 mg / ml.

the plant contain chemicals substances that can be used in the formulation of very potent antifungal agents that can be used for the treatment of Mycotic infections.