Antifungal activity of an aqueous extract of leaves of garlic creeper (Adenocilymma alliaceum Miers.)

Abstract

The antifungal activity of an aqueous extract of the leaves of garlic creeper (Adenocalyxmna alliaceum Miers.) was tested against several fungi. The extract showed a broad fungitoxic spectrum as tested by inhibition of spore germination. Exposure of the spores of Alterniaria brassicae (Berk.) Sacc. to the extract for 5 min inhibited the spore germination by 72%, and after exposure for 10 min, a 100% inhibition was found. The inhibitory principle of the extract had a good shelf life at 10°C, and was thermostable when kept for 1 h at 60°C and on boiling at 100°C for 3 min. However, the inhibitory activity of the extract decreased to 70% on boiling for 5 min and was completely lost after boiling for 10 min.