A STUDY ON ANTIFUNGAL POTENTIAL OF CASSIA FISTULA LINN
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Date
2017
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University of Management & Technology
Abstract
Medicinal plants are widely used by the traditional practitioners to cure different diseases due to their world-wide availability and fewer side effects. Plants are extremely important for life to provide nourishment and oxygen and are also used to treat different aliments. Likewise Cassia fistula Linn (C. fistula) is a therapeutic plant that belongs to family Fabaceae and is commonly called ‘amaltas’, “Indian Laburnum” and ‘’Golden Shower.’’ C. fistula is very popular ornamental plant found in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, China, Philippine, South Africa, Malaysia, Brazil. This plant has long history of therapeutic use, and still commonly used in pharmaceuticals. Moreover, C. fistula is commonly used by ethnic to treat many ailments containing ringworm and fungal skin infections thereby it is known as disease killer. In Ayurveda, whole parts of C. fistula such as bark, roots, fruits and leaves, are used for treating fever, constipation, digestive distresses and skin diseases.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of different extracts of leaves of C. fistula. Their antioxidant activity was also examined. Methanol, aqueous, and n- hexane were used as a solvents. Phytochemical screening revealed that plant contains steroids, alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, and saponins. The aqueous, n-hexane, and methanol extracts of C. fistula were analyzed against C. albican, and S. cerevisiae for antifungal activity. Antifungal activity was performed by agar well diffusion method. In this method all extracts of C. fistula were tested against two fungal strains. Nystain was used as a standard. As indicated by the zone of inhibition the highest antifungal activity of methanolic extract (2.6-3) was shown by S. cerevisiae. Antioxidant activity were evaluated by using Total Phenolic Content assay which showed that methanol extract has highest activity among all extracts (GAE=37287) and lowest activity was shown by n-hexane extract which was (GAE=14545) and aqueous extract showed activity (GAE=14839) which was slightly greater than n- hexane. The results indicated that methanolic extracts of C. fistula leaves are more effective source of herbal medicines against infectious diseases.
Description
Dr. AYESHA MOHYUDDIN
Keywords
Family Fabaceae, Genus Cassia, Morphological, Antifungal, MS