Antifungal Activity of Petroluem Ether Extracts of Moringa oleifera Leaves and Stem Bark against Some Plant Pathogenic Fungi

Abstract

The petroleum ether extracts of the leaves and stem bark of Moringa oleifera Lam. were evaluated for their antifungal activity against Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc., Botryodiplodia theobromae Pat., Van Tiegh, Penicillium oxalicum Currie Thom. and Aspergillus niger Van Tiegh. The phytochemical analysis of the crude extract of the plant parts received the presence of saponins, alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, anthraquinones, reducing sugars, phlobatannins, cardiac glycosides, terpenes and phenols. The petroleum ether extracts of the plant parts were effective against all the fungi tested. Sclerotium rolfsii was the most susceptible, while A. niger was the least susceptible. The inhibition of S. rolfsii to both extract was significantly (P<0.05) different compared to the other fungi tested. The leaf extract exhibited more significant activity than the bark extract. The results obtained suggest that M. oleifera can be used in controlling the test fungal pathogens in plants.

Keywords: Moringa oleifera, antifungal activity, leaves, stem bark, pathogenic fungi.