Phytochemical and Antifungal Activity of Citrullus colocynthis Seeds Solvent Extracts

Plant extracts and their constituents have a long history as an important source of secondary metabolites and antifungal agents, but their use in as fungicides, has been rarely reported. The aim of this study was to assess the phytochemical constituents and in vitro antifungal activity of different solvent extracts from Citrullus colocynthis seeds. Alkaloids, Glycosides, Terpenoids, Tannins, Anthraquinone and Carbohydrates were seen present in all the 3 extracts. Saponins and phenols were absent in all the solvent extracts. Antifungal activity was checked for five different solvent extracts against 3 fungal isolates. The maximum zone of inhibition was seen against Rhizopus spp. , by methanolic extract of the seed sample. Chloroform and diethylether extracts did not show much activity against the fungal isolates. The minimum inhibitory concentration was seen at 0.625mg/ml concentration for all the fungal isolates with the ethanolic extract. Rhizopus and Aspergillus niger showed mimimum inhibitory concentration at 0.625mg/ml concentration of the methanolic extract with a zone of 6mm and 7mm respectively. Gliocladium showed MIC value of 2.5mg/ml with the methanolic extract of the seed sample. The hexane extract showed less antifungal activity and the MIC value was 0.625mg/ml, 2.5mg/ml and 5mg/ml for Rhizopus, Aspergillus niger and Gliocladium respectively.