In Vitro Antifungal Activity and Phytochemical Screening of Gouaniajavanica Miq. Leaves

Abstract

Gouaniajavanica Miq. leaves were collected from the users in Nagbukel, Ilocos Sur. The plant was authenticated at the National Museum Botany Division, Manila (November 15, 2007, Control No. 578). The weighed 200 grams of fresh plant material were extracted with ethanol and concentrated to 20 ml. Antifungal Assay of the extract. The following micro organisms were employed in the assay: Candida albicans, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Aspergillus niger. These were obtained from the culture collection of the Natural Science Research Institute (NSRI), University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City. Screening for anti fungal activity. The Kirby-Bauer Disk Diffusion Method was used fort his specific part. The Sabouraud agar plates were seeded with the inoculum using a sterile cotton swab. The entire surface of the agar was streaked evenly in all directions. The plates were incubated at room temperature for 72 hours, after which the diameter of the zones of inhibition were measured using a Vernier caliper. The antifungal testing was done in three replications. Phytochemical analysis. The extracts were subjected to phytochemical screening to detect the presence of some secondary plant metabolites following standard procedures from the Chemistry and Pharmacological Division, Department of Science and Technology, Bicutan, Taguig City, Metro Manila. The leaf extract showed strong (+++) antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger with a mean diameter of zone of inhibition of 21.16 mm; moderate (++) antifungal activity against Candida albicans with a mean diameter f zone of inhibition of 12.08; and weak (+) antifungal activity against Tricophyton mentagrophytes with a mean diameter of zone ofinhibition of 8.55. Phytochemical analysis ofthe Gouania leafextract revealed the presenceof the following secondary  metabolites: flavonoids, saponins, triterpenes, glycosides, and alkaloids. The presence of alkaloids which turned out to be moderate (++) isjust a manifestation that this plant species can be a very good source ofmedicine. Since some ofthe 30 known alkaloids are used in medicine today, the researchersfind it important that the specific type ofalkaloidpresent in the leaves ofthe Gouaia plant should be isolated in the near future. Further, flavonoids present in the leaves is an indication of the plant's antiviral, antifungal, anti inflammatory and cytotoxic activities (Capal, 1992). Saponins, triterpenes and glycosides are also very important compounds, thereby making this plant species a very goodsource of medicine and other important products.