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Inhibition of Growth of Fungi Isolated From Deteriorating Melon Seed By Extracts of <i>Punica Granatum</i> and <i>Cymbopogon Citratus</i>


A Banso
A.G Jiya

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of extracts of Punica granatum and Cymbopogon citratus on Aspergillus nivale, Rhizopus stolonifer , Mucor mucido and Aspergillus fumigatus isolated from deteriorating melon seed using radial growth technique. Phytochemical screening revealed that extracts the plants contained saponins, glycosides, alkaloids and tannins. Steroids were also detected in Punica
granatum. The plant extracts inhibited the growth of all the test fungi. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extracts ranged between 0.06μg/ml. and 0.07μg/ml while the minimum fungicidal concentration ranged between 0.06μg/ml and 0.08μg/ml. Aqueous extract of Punica granatum appears to be more effective as an antifungal agent than the extract of Cymbopogon citratus. Extracts of Punica granatum and Cymbopogon citratus may be important sources of preservative of melon seed.

Key words: Investigate, deteriorating, phytochemical, fungicidal, concentration, preservative.


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print ISSN: 0189-1731