European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ANTIFUNGAL PROPERTIES OF CHROMOLAENA ODORATA (SIAM WEED) LEAVES

*Anyadoh-Nwadike Sylvia O., Ahumibe N. C., Manunyewor Donatus J. and Ilo Cajetan Elochukwu

ABSTRACT

Antifungal and phytochemical properties of hot water and ethanolic extracts of Chromolaena odorata were assayed using standard techniques. This was done to ascertain the susceptibilities of the challenge fungi to crude C. odorata extracts using two extraction methods and assess the active phytochemical constituents of the plant. Plant materials (leaves) were collected from Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria compound. The leaves were appropriately prepared and extraction of crude ingredients done using ethanol and hot water respectively under standard laboratory conditions. Nystatin (10 mg/dl) was also used for comparative purposes. Candida albicans, Penicillium notatum, Geotrichum sp., Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus oryzae were used as the challenge test organisms. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of bioactive flavonoids, polyphenols, saponins and tanins. Results revealed that all the test fungi were susceptible to both the hot water and ethanolic extracts observed as inhibition of growth at 100 mg/ml and 50 mg/ml respectively. Aspergilus niger, Candida albicans and Aspergilus oryzae showed the highest susceptibility to both the aqueous and ethanol extracts whereas Geotrichum sp and Penicillium notatum showed some level of resistance to bioactivity of both the aqueous and ethanol extracts. However, they were all susceptible to Nystatin (10 mg/dl). The presence of bioactive substances may be responsible for the antifungal activities of the extract. This study therefore underscores the fact that C. odorata can be a viable and cheap source for antifungal formulations though the efficacious dosage may be higher than that of Nystatin.

Keywords: phytochemical, antifungal, Chromolaena odorata, Siam weed, ethanolic extracts, bioactive agents.