In vitro antifungal activity of Cassia alata Linn. flower extract

Abstract

The aqueous flower extract of Cassia alata Linn. (Family-Caesalpiniaceae) was investigated for antifungal activity by agar diffusion method against three distinct groups of fungi, viz. aflatoxin producing fungi, Aspergillus flavus (NCBT 101) and A. parasiticus (NCBT 128); plant pathogenic fungi, Fusarium oxysporum ( NCBT 156 ) and Helminthosporium oryzae (NCBT 165); and human pathogenic fungi Candida albicans (NCBT 140) and Microsporum audouinni (NCBT 173). Total inhibition (100%) of growth was seen at 10 and 15 mg/ml concentrations for aflatoxin producing fungal strains. Whereas for plant and human pathogenic fungi total inhibition was at 15mg/ml concentration. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the extract varied from 5.75 to 8.00mg/ml for these fungi. Thus, aqueous flower extract of C. alata can be used as a potential antifungal agent for these three varied groups of fungi.