Evidence-based antifungal potential of some traditional medicinal plants, from the Bechar region (Southwest Algeria)

Abstract

The development of more effective and less toxic antifungal agents is required for the treatment of several ailments. In this research, the antifungal activity of the crude aqueous and hydromethanolic extracts of nine medicinal plant, frequently used in the local traditional medicine in the Bechar region (southwest Algeria), was evaluated, using the radial growth method on solid medium, against seven fungal pathogens isolated from local wheat, toasted and green Coffee beans. The results of the antifungal potency revealed that the hydromethanolic extract of Rhus tripartita and the aqueous extract of Traganum nudatum were the best to suppress the growth of Aspergillus nidulans (77 and 66% respectively), followed by the hydromethanolic extract of Haloxylon scoparia red (63%). Whereas, the aqueous extract of Traganum nudatum was found to be the best to inhibit the growth of Penicillium oxalicum (60%) compared to the other extracts. Lesser activities were recorded for the hydromethanolic extract of Andropogon nardus (0%) and the aqueous extract of Globularia vulgaris (1%) against Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus ochracus respectively. The selected plant extracts can serve as potential sources of new antifungal agents that may be of great use for the development of pharmaceutics against various diseases.