ABSTRACT
The in vitro antifungal potential of whole plant Hybanthus enneaspermus Muell belonging to family Violaceae was screened against selected Candida species based on its use in anti-inflammatory, antitussive, urinary tract, plasmodial infections and other disorders in traditional system of medicine. In the present investigation aqueous, ethanolic. petroleum ether and chloroform extracts of whole plant were obtained. Preliminary reports showed presence of aurantiamide acetate, isoarborinol. b-sitosterol and triterpene as active phytoconstituents. The extracts were tested against Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis and Candida krusei. The antifungal activity was investigated by disc diffusion and micro broth dilution assay in the concentration range of 7.8-1000 micro g/ml. Ethanol [95%] extract exhibited significant and broader spectrum of inhibition in comparison to petroleum ether extract which showed moderate effect. Chloroform and aqueous extract showed feeble activity. An attempt has been made to compare the spectrum of inhibition of Hybanthus enneaspermus extracts to that of standard antifungal drugs effectively used against selected Candida species