Inhibitory activity of Indian spice plant Cinnamomum zeylanicum extracts against Alternaria solani and Curvularia lunata, the pathogenic dematiaceous moulds.
BACKGROUND
Dematiaceous moulds are pathogenic microorganisms and act as etiological agents of mycoses with different degrees of severity in humans and animals. These moulds also cause loss of food crops and storage food products. The information regarding antimicrobial efficacy of the plant preparations on these moulds is scanty. The present study reveals phytochemical characterization and the effect of bark and leaf extracts of Indian spice plant, Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Cz), against the growth of two species of dematiaceous moulds, Alternaria solani and Curvularia lunata.


METHODS
Cz bark and leaf samples were sequentially extracted in different solvents using Soxhlet apparatus. Phytochemical analyses of extracts were done as per standard protocols. The antifungal bioassay of extracts was done by hanging drop technique. The inhibition of fungal spore germination was monitored under influence of three different concentrations of extracts.


RESULTS
The lowest test concentration (50 microg/ml) of extracts of Cz bark prepared into acetone and that of Cz leaf into petroleum ether and ethanol exhibited complete inhibition (100%) of spore germination in both the moulds. At 100 microg/ml concentration all the extracts showed about 50 to 100% inhibition. However, the treatment of the spores of the two fungal species with highest concentration (500 microg/ml) of bark and leaf extracts in all the solvents showed 100% fungicidal activity as it completely arrested the germination of spores. Relatively lower activity of aqueous extracts at 50 and 100 microg/ml concentrations suggests that the antifungal ingredients present in Cz bark and leaf are more soluble in organic solvents than water.


CONCLUSIONS
The results demonstrated that the Cz bark and leaves contain certain fungicidal constituents exhibiting potential antimould activity against A. solani and C. lunata.
Mishra
Ajay K
AK
Department of Biochemistry, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, 211002, India. ajaybiochem@gmail.com
Mishra
Amita
A
Kehri
H K
HK
Sharma
Bechan
B
Pandey
Abhay K
AK
D000528:Alternaria / Q000187:drug effects; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002935:Cinnamomum zeylanicum / Q000737:chemistry*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D007194:India; D003904:Mitosporic Fungi / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009181:Mycoses / Q000382:microbiology*; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts