ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to investigate the potential of extracts of the stem bark of Entandrophragma cylindricum Sprague for controlling plant pathogenic fungi. The bark of the E. cylindricum was extracted with four different solvents: ethanol, chloroform, petroleum ether and water. The four extracts were tested for the phytochemical constituents and antifungal activities. Five fungal species (Curvularia lunatus Tandam and Bilgrami, Fusarium solani Mart, Aspergillus niger Van Tiegh, Aspergillus flavus Link and Trichoderma longibrachyatum Rafai) were used in this study. These fungi are responsible for various plant diseases. Phytochemical tests showed that the extracts contained alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids and phenols. The antifungal activity was based on inhibition of the growth of the test fungi by the extracts. The inhibition of C. lunatus to all the extracts was significantly (P < 0.05) different compared to that of the other fungi. Ethanol extracts exhibited the strongest fungitoxicity against the fungi tested. The results obtained suggest that E. cylindricum could be used in controlling diseases caused by the fungi monitored. |
