In vitro evaluation of various extracts of Acacia nilotica (L.) del. against human pathogenic fungi

Abstract

Acacia nilotica (L.) Del. of Mimosaceae is widely distributed in India. It has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-diarrhoeal, anti-hypertensive, insecticidal, anthelmintic, anti-plasmodic, anti-bacterial properties. Candida albicans causes candidosis and Epidermophyton floccosum causes dermatophytosis. It also invades skin and nails. It is a infectious agent in immunocompromised patient with Behcet’s syndrome. Aqueous, ethyl alcohol and ethyl acetate hot extracts of leaves, bark, roots & seeds were investigated for their antifungal activity. The growth inhibition was determined using food poisoning method against human pathogenic fungi. It was observed that ethyl acetate extract showed maximum inhibition than ethyl alcohol extract followed by aqueous extract against the selected human pathogenic fungi.