Antifungal Activity of Kuchai (Allium tuberosum) Rottier ex Spreng Bulb Extract

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the antifungal activity of the kuchai bulb extract using ethyl alcohol and water as solvents against Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. The experiment was conducted at the Natural Products Chemistry and Biotechnology Laboratory, Science Complex I of the University of Northern Philippines, Tamag, Wigan City, Ilocos Sur from October 2005 to January 2006. Standard procedures and screeningfor antifungal activity by Ontengco, et al. (1992) and Guevarra (2005) were strictly followed in the conduct of the experiment. Results showed that using water as extracting solvent, the antifungal activity in terms of the diameters of inhibition of the kuchai bulb extract was weak against C. albicans and A. niger and negative on T. mentagrophytes. Using ethyl alcohol, the kuchai bulb extract was strong against C. albicans and A. niger, and moderate on T mentagrophytes. Furthermore, there was no significant difference between and among the diameters of inhibition of the three test organisms subjected to kuchai bulb extract using water as solvent, Likewise, the same result was obtained using ethyl alcohol as solvent. Moreover, the t-test showed that the mean differences of the diameters of inhibition of the three test organisms subjected to kuchai bulb extract using ethyl alcohol and water assolvents were significant at OJ level. This means that ethyl alcohol as solvent is better than water in testing the antifungal activity ofkuchai bulb extract. From the result ofthe study, it is evident that ethyl alcohol as extracting solvent is better than water in determining the antifungal activity of the kuchai bulb extract against C. albicans, A. niger, and T. mentagrophytes.