Antifungal activity of nicotine and its copper complex

ABSTRACT

Nicotine and its metal complex, Cu[11]-nicotine were isolated from leaves of Nicutiana tabacum using various metal ions by a techniques reported by Munir et al., 1994'. Antifungal activity of this complex was studied using 14 different species of fungi by comparing growth inhibition. Range of antifungal activity was compared with pure sample of nicotine and the metal salt used for complexation; copper[11] chloride, using the same species of fungi under similar conditions. Nicotine exhibited antifungal activity against 9 out of 14 selected species of which Copper[11] chloride was found to be effective against 11 out of 14 selected species. On the other hand, Copper[11]-nicotine was also found to be effective against 1 l out of 14 selected species of fungi tested