Comparative efficacy of pods, leaves, stem bark of Acacia nilotica against Aspergillus niger

Abstract

Acacia nilotica, a medicinal plant, has demonstrated considerable antifungal potential against Aspergillus niger through extracts from its stem bark, leaves, and pods. This study evaluated the antifungal activity of these extracts using methanol and aqueous solvents, revealing varying levels of effectiveness. The methanol extracts from the stem bark showed the highest antifungal activity, with inhibition zones reaching 27.00 ± 1.53 mm at 100 mg/mL after 48 hours. Similarly, pod and leaf extracts exhibited significant antifungal properties, although slightly less potent. The methanol extracts consistently outperformed aqueous extracts, suggesting that higher concentrations of bioactive compounds like alkaloids, flavonoids, and tannins are more soluble in methanol, thus enhancing antifungal activity. The results of this study confirm the antifungal efficacy of Acacia nilotica extracts, particularly the stem bark and pod, positioning them as promising candidates for the development of natural antifungal agents. The findings support further phytochemical studies to isolate and identify specific bioactive compounds for pharmaceutical applications.