EVALUATION OF THE ANTIFUNGAL POTENTIAL OF A. SATIVUM EXTRACT AGAINST PHYTOPATHOGENIC FUNGI

The increasing public concern on the use of synthetic fungicide and resistance development led to an increase in search for alternative control strategies. Medicinal plants serve as therapeutic agents as well as important raw materials for the manufacture of traditional and modern medicine. Considering the vast potential of plants as sources for antimicrobial drugs with reference to antifungal agents, a systematic investigation was undertaken to explore the antifungal potential of few medicinal plants. In present study, in-vitro antifungal activities of few medicinal plant extracts were evaluated against two well-known plant pathogens i.e., Fusarium oxysporum (MTCC 284) and Cladosporium herbarum (MTCC 351). Fourteen plant ethanolic extracts were prepared, and out of them, five plants; Allium sativum, Zingiber officinale, Mentha spicata, Carica papaya and Elettaria cardamomum showed good antifungal activity. A. sativum ethanolic extract showing maximum antifungal activity was further subjected to carry out other studies. MIC values of ethanolic extract of A. sativum against F. oxysporum (MTCC 284) and C. herbarum (MTCC 351) were found to be 60 mg/ml and 120 mg/ml, respectively. Thin-layer chromatography of the A. sativum extract showed the presence of five constituents, and the active component was found to be heat stable and thus may be exploited as an effective biofungicide.