STUDY OF ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF LEAF EXTRACT OF SOME WILD PLANTS OF ASTERACEAE ON ASPERGILLUS FLAVUS

Aflatoxins have great significance due to health hazards to men and other useful animals. The aflatoxins are produced by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus. Recently, the use of natural products like cinnamon and clove oil has also been suggested for the inhibition of aflatoxin production as well as growth of A. parasiticus. In view of the known antifungal properties of plant extracts, an attempt has been made in the present investigation to explore the Antifungal Activity of Plant extracts against growth of A. flavus by some wild plants of family Asteraceae, viz., Ageratum conyzoides, Carthamus oxycantha, Eclipta alba, Echinops echinatus, Launea nudicaulis, Lactuca dissecta, Parthenium hysterophorus, Sonchus aspera, Vernonia cinerea and Xanthium strumarium have been studied against growth of toxigenic strain of A. flavus by standard cup method on solid medium. The diameter of zone of inhibition was measured in mm and percent inhibition in growth was calculated. Out of three concentrations viz., 10, 15 and 20 per cent of leaf extracts, the 20 per cent concentration was found most effective. Further, hot water extract of leaf was adjudged more inhibitory as compared to cold water extract of plants. The maximum inhibition (70%) in growth of test fungus was caused by hot water leaf extract of A. conyzoides. It also can be concluded that leaf extract of different experimental plants have antifungal activity to varying extents.