title: Antifungal activity of crude extracts of gladiolus dalenii van geel (iridaceae).
abstract: Bulb extracts of Gladiolus dalenii reportedly used in the treatment of fungal infections in HIV/AIDS patients in the Lake Victoria region were tested for antifungal activity using the disc diffusion assay technique. Commercially used antifungal drugs, Ketaconazole and Griseofulvin (Cosmos Pharmaceuticals) were used as standards. Dichloromethane (CH₂CL₂)/Methanol (MeOH) in the ratio 1:1. Soluble extracts showed antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger. Direct bioautography on silica gel Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and appropriate spraying agents were used to identify the active component in the extract. The activities of both the extracts were higher than that of Griseofulvin. CH₂CL₂ soluble extract in addition showed ability to delay sporulation in A.niger. The active group of compounds in the extracts was identified as alkaloids, which offer immense potential for development of new and valuable pharmaceutical products.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences. judyohis2003@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Judith Agot
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Odhiambo
authors.forename: George Muyala
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Siboe
authors.forename: Catherine Wanjiru
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lukhoba
authors.forename: Saiffudin Fidahussein
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Dossaji
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001234:Aspergillus niger / Q000187:drug effects*; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D006801:Humans; D027621:Iridaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D000432:Methanol; D008752:Methylene Chloride; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D008752:Methylene Chloride; D000432:Methanol