Antifimgal properties of the crude extracts of bauhinia thonningii schum. [caesalpiniaceae] and sarcocephalus esculentus afzel [rubiaceae] from atropical forest in Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Ethanol and water crude extracts of Bauhinia thonningii and Sarcocephalus esculentus barks were investigated individually for in vitro antifungal activity by disc diffusion agar technique. The phytochemical properties of the extracts were also assayed. The plant crude extracts had significant antifungal activity on Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, Microsporum audouinii and Trichophyton rubrum which were previously isolated from patients with skin diseases. The water extract of the plants showed more antifungal activity than the corresponding ethanol extract. The water extract of B. thonningii had the highest zone of inhibition [16.70 +/- 0.19 mm] on Trichophyton rubrum culture plate. The water extract of B. thonningii had a higher zone of inhibition on the cultures of Candida albicans, Microsporum audouinii and Trichophyton rubrum than the antibiotics Nystatin and Fulcin at 10 micro g/ml. The crude extracts of B. thonningii and Sarcocephalus esculentus contained the alkaloid, anthocyanin, anthraquinone, betacyanin, flavonoid, saponin and steroid