ANTIFUNGAL AND PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF FRUIT EXTRACTS OF LYCIUM BARBARUM LINN
Vinnashini S., Anita Gnana Kumari A. V.* and Anbu Jeba Sunilson J.
ABSTRACT
Opportunistic fungal infections have been a common element of morbidity and mortality within the immunosuppressed individuals while dermatophytosis is the superficial fungal infection caused by dermatophytic fungi with high affinity for keratinized tissue. The remedy of these infections is a remarkable challenge due to the resistance of antifungal drugs. The fruit of Lycium barbarum has been traditionally used in Chinese herbal medicine and they are considered as functional foods with wide range of pharmacological activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Lycium barbarum (goji berry) fruit extract against fungal pathogens. In the present study aqueous and methanol extracts of fruit extract of Lycium barbarum were tested in vitro for their antifungal activity against Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger and Trichophyton rubrum. Methanol extract was the most potent with maximum zone of inhibition(24 & 25mm)against Candida albicans and Trichophyton rubrum and compared with standard drug fluconozole. The MIC and MBC values of the methanolic extract of Lycium barbarum fruit extract against Candida albicans and Trichophyton rubrum were found at the concentration of 125 and 250mg/ml. The phytochemical screening of extracts revealed the presence of flavonoid, saponin, polyphenol and volatile oil. Findings from the study revealed that methanol extract of Lycium barbarum shows significant antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Trichophyton rubrum. Further studies are required to understand the efficacy and the mechanism of action involved in the antifungal activity of the plant extract of L barbarum.
Keywords: Lycium barbarum fruits, Ethanolic extracts, Aqueous extracts, Fungal pathogens.
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