IN VITRO ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF VARIOUS EXTRACTS OF LEAF AND STEM PARTS OF SOLENA AMPLEXICAULIS (LAM.) GANDHI

Objective: To evaluate the antifungal properties of different alcoholic and aqueous extracts of leaf and stem parts of Solena amplexicaulis (Lam.) Gandhi. Methods: In vitro antifungal activity was determined by using agar disc diffusion technique and the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was determined by using broth dilution method against nine fungal species. Results: Among the four organic solvent and aqueous extracts, methanol extract exhibited higher antifungal activity but their effectiveness was varied. The activity was compared with the standard drug, tetracycline. The methanolic extract of stem showed significantly higher antifungal activity than the leaf part. In MIC the inhibitory effects of methanol extract of leaf and stem parts were determined to be ranging between 300 and 500µg/mL and 300-600µg/mL respectively. Conclusion: The results clearly prove that the plant extracts have therapeutic potential for the treatment of various infectious diseases caused by fungi.