Antifungal activity of four weedy plant extracts against selected mycotoxigenic fungi
Date
2010
Authors
Thembo K.M.
Vismer H.F.
Nyazema N.Z.
Gelderblom W.C.A.
Katerere D.R.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Aims: To investigate the antifungal activity of aqueous and organic extracts of four weedy plant species viz. Tagetes minuta, Lippia javanica, Amaranthus spinosus and Vigna unguiculata against isolates of four agriculturally important fungi, i.e. Fusarium verticillioides, F. proliferatum, Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus. Methods and Results: Dried powdered aerial parts of the plants were extracted sequentially with hexane, dichloromethane, methanol and water and tested for activity using a serial microdilution assay. Results were read every day over 120 h. All extracts except for the water extracts showed growth inhibitory activity against most isolates of the Fusarium spp. The most active were the methanol and hexane extracts of V. unguiculata and A. spinosus with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of <0·5 mg ml-1 after 48 h against Fusarium spp. No inhibition of the Aspergillus spp. tested was observed, but conidium formation was stimulated on plates treated with plant extracts when visually compared to the growth controls. Conclusions: The results obtained from this study indicated that chemical constituents from these plant species may be developed as potential agrochemical fungicides. Significance and Impact of the Research: Food and feed are subject to infection by a variety of micro-organisms that can induce spoilage andor produce metabolites that are toxic to humans and animals. Extracts of V. unguiculata and A. spinosus were most active and maybe developed into environmentally friendly fungicides, which are affordable to rural farmers in developing countries. © 2010 The Society for Applied Microbiology.
Description
Keywords
agricultural chemical, amaranthus spinosus extract, dichloromethane, hexane, Lippia javanica extract, methanol, plant extract, Tagetes minuta extract, unclassified drug, Vigna unguiculata extract, antimicrobial activity, aqueous solution, assay, biocontrol agent, concentration (composition), developing world, fungicide, fungus, growth response, inhibitor, legume, medicinal plant, methanol, organic compound, plant extract, solvent, species diversity, toxicity, ungulate, weed, amaranthus spinosus, antifungal activity, article, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus, controlled study, cowpea, drug inhibition, food spoilage, fungus growth, fungus isolation, Fusarium, Fusarium proliferatum, Fusarium verticillioide, Lippia javanica, medicinal plant, minimum inhibitory concentration, nonhuman, tagetes minuta, Amaranthus spinosus, Animalia, Aspergillus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus, Fungi, Fusarium, Fusarium proliferatum, Gibberella moniliformis, Lippia javanica, Tagetes minuta, Vigna unguiculata
Citation
Journal of Applied Microbiology
109
4
109
4