Antifungal activity from leaf extracts of Cassia alata L., Cassia fistula L. and Cassia tora L.

• Main Authors: Metta Ongsakul, Souwalak Phongpaichit, Vatcharin Rukachaisirikul, Nongyao Pujenjob
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Prince of Songkla University 2004-09-01
• Series: Songklanakarin Journal of Science and Technology (SJST)
• Subjects: Cassia alata; Cassia fistula; Cassia tora; antifungal
• Online Access: http://www.sjst.psu.ac.th/journal/26-5.pdf/13antifungal.pdf

Crude methanol extracts from leaves of Cassia alata, Cassia fistula and Cassia tora were investigated for their antifungal activities on three pathogenic fungi (Microsporum gypseum, Trichophyton rubrum andPenicillium marneffei). Among 3 species, C. alata was the most effective leaf extract against T. rubrum and M. gypseum with the 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) of hyphal growth at 0.5 and 0.8 mg/ml, respectively, whereas the extract of C. fistula was the most potent inhibitor of P. marneffei with the IC50 of 0.9 mg/ml. In addition, it was found that all three Cassia leaf extracts also affected M. gypseum conidial germination. Microscopic observation revealed that the treated hyphae and macroconidia with leaf extracts were shrunken and collapsed, which might be due to cell fluid leakage.