Antifungal activity of total extract and chloroform, methanol and aqueous fractions of aerial parts of Ephedra pachyclada against 5 fungal strains.

Background: Increased consumption of synthetic antifungal compounds has created serious side effects and wide spread antifungal resistance. We report the results of evaluation of antifungal properties of different crude extract and relevant fraction of aerial parts of Ephedra pachyclada.Materials and methods: Extracts and fractions were obtained according to maceration standard methods. The crude extract and fractions were diluted in different values from 500 to 31.25 mg/ml. Candida albicans (ATCC 10231), Aspergillus niger (PTCC 5010), Aspergillus flavus (PTCC 5004), Aspergillus fumigatus (PTCC 5009), fusarium oxysporium (PFCC 38-115), were used to assay the antifungal activity by disc diffusion method. The drug ketoconazole was used as a control for lack of growth in order to comparing it as a chemical drug with the mentioned extract and fractions. MIC values were determined using micro-dilution method according to CLSI.Results: The results showed that total extract and chloroform, methanol and aqueous fractions have antifungal effects against Candida albicans only. Methanol and aqueous fractions have more inhibition effect than total extract and chloroform fraction on candida albicans.Conclusion: We conclude that this plant contains antifungal compounds, so the exact experiments and evaluation are pre-requirement of any applicable recommendation.

Keywords:

Aspergillus niger , Aspergillus fumigatus , Aspergillus flavus , Candida albicans