Evaluation of Antifungal Susceptibility Pattern of Selected Filamentous Fungi to Methanol Extracts of Psidium guajava, Cassia alata Linn, Mitracarpus villosus and Some Conventional Agents

Mba Anthonia Nkiru

1Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, Ebonyi, Nigeria. 2International Institute for Infectious Diseases, Biosafety and Biosecurity Research, David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, Ebonyi, Nigeria

Abstract

Fungal contamination in poultry farms poses significant risks to animal health and food safety. The widespread use of conventional antimicrobial agents including antifungal agents, has led to the emergence of antifungal resistance, reducing their efficacy. Moreover, conventional antifungal agents often exhibit toxicity, have a narrow spectrum of activity, and can be costly. These limitations highlight the need for alternative control measures. Medicinal plants with antifungal properties offer a promising avenue for exploration. This study investigates the antifungal activity of methanolic extracts of selected medicinal plants against fungal isolates from poultry farms, comparing their efficacy with conventional antifungal agents. This study evaluated the antifungal activity of methanolic extracts from Mitrocarpus villosus, Psidium guajava, and Cassia alata against 15 fungal isolates from poultry farms using disc diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) assays. Ketoconazole and fluconazole served as positive controls, while 2% dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) was used as a negative control. The extracts exhibited varying degrees of inhibition, with Mitrocarpus villosus showing the most potent activity against fungal isolates such as Paecillomyces varioti (30.0 mm zone of inhibition at 20 mg/disc). The MIC and MFC ranged from 25-100 mg/mL. The positive controls demonstrated significant antifungal activity, while the negative control showed no inhibition. The study suggests that these plant extracts have potential as natural antifungal agents, with Mitrocarpus villosus exhibiting the most promising activity. The findings indicate that plant extracts like Mitrocarpus villosus, Psidium guajava, and Cassia alata could be used as promising alternatives or complementary therapies to conventional antifungals for controlling fungal contaminants in poultry environments. Further research is needed to determine their efficacy and safety.