Antifungal activity in the methanolic, aqueous and hexane extracts of Capparis deciduas

Abstract

The use of plants to cure specific ailments is as antique as human civilization. These days, in the modern era, there is a growing concern by public opinion regarding the use of synthetic medicine due to their side effects and cost. These facts led to the discovery of some economical and alternative drugs with fewer side-effects. In this study, methanolic, hexane and aqueous extracts of Capparis deciduas have been evaluated for their antifungal activity against medically important fungal strains – Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger using disc diffusion method at a dose of 1.8, 2.9, 6.5, 12.6, 25, 50 and 75 (µg/mL). Zone of inhibition for antifungal activity of these extracts was compared with that of a standard drug like fluconazole. The methanolic extracts of C. decidua showed significant activity against C. albicans (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC): 1.8 µg/mL), for hexane extracts the MIC was 2.9 µg/mL and for aqueous extracts, no MIC can be observed. C. decidua did not show significant activity against A. niger. Our finding showed that C. decidua has antifungal activity and further phytochemical analyses of these plants should be carried out to determine the bioactive ingredients that may serve as a lead in the progress of novel research activities in the pharmaceuticals industry.