Antifungal Activities of Some Plant Extracts against Pathogenic Fungi

Soil samples were collected from different localities in Cairo, and were assayed for keratinophilic fungi. Five species of fungi classified in two genera were isolated from Giza zoo (animal cages and parks), hospital, public park, local market, primary school, club, and garbage dumping site. Five plants were chosen to investigate their antifungal activity against five isolated dermatophytes: Microsporum gypseum, Microsporum boullardii, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton terrsetre, and Trichophyton verrucosum. The tested plants were Punica granatum (Pomegranate), Aloe vera, Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel), Allium ampeloprasum var. Kurrat (kurrat), and Ricinus communis (Castor bean). Plant extracts were prepared by three different solvents, hexane, ethyl acetate, and (80%) ethanol. The study shows that ethanolic extract of Punica granatum (Pomegranate), hexane, and ethanolic extract of Allium ampeloprasum var. Kurrat (kurrat) were effective against most of the tested organisms. Ethanolic extract of pomegranate and hexane extract of kurrat were chromatographed by column chromatography. Fractions from column chromatography were tested for antifungal activity. Ethyl acetate: ethanol (9:1) fraction of pomegranate (Punica granatum) and hexane: ethyl acetate (1:9) fraction of kurrat(Allium ampeloprasum var. Kurrat) showed antifungal activity against the fungal strains. These fractions were analyzed by Gas Chromatography- Mass Spectrum (GC-MS).