Phytochemical Screening and Antifungal Activities of Cashew (Anacardium occidentale Linn.) Leaves Extract on Some Fungal Isolates

Introduction: The study on qualitative phytochemical screening and antifungal activities was evaluated on Cashew (Anacardium occidentale Linn.) leaf extracts using standard procedures.

Objectives: With the view of evaluating its secondary metabolites and also assessing it’s antifungal activities.

Methodology: The antifungal activities of the leaves extracts (aqueous and ethanol) were carried out using agar incorporation method at varying concentrations (20 mg/mL, 40 mg/mL, 60 mg/mL, 80 mg/mL and 100 mg/mL). The aqueous and ethanolic extracts were tested against Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus stolonifer (isolated from street vended sliced fruits).

Results: The phytochemical screening revealed that A. occidentale leaf extracts (aqueous and ethanolic) contained; Tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, Cardiac glycosides, Glycosides, Saponins glycosides, Saponins, Steroids and Volatile oils with the exceptions of Anthraquines and Balsams. The result shows that aqueous extracts has no significant inhibitory activity when compared to the ethanolic extracts against A. niger (p =0.05). The highest mean zone of inhibition (38.00± 5.00 mm) was observed at 100 mg/mL concentration of the aqueous extract and the lowest mean zone of inhibition (12.67± 2.51 mm) was observed at 20 mg/mL concentration of the ethanol extracts against A. niger while R. stolonifer were highly resistant to both extracts. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the extract (MIC) was observed at 20 mg/mL for both extracts.

Conclusion: Thus, the study showed that A. occidentale could be a possible source of obtaining new and effective drugs.