Abstract

The in vitro antifungal activities of crude latex of Argemone ochroleuca Sweet against four clinical isolates of Candida (Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida kruseiand Candida tropicalis) and six isolates of plant pathogenic fungi (Alternaria alternate,Drechslera halodes, Fusarium oxysporum, Macrophomina phaseolina, Pythium ultimum and Rhizoctoina solani) were assessed using well diffusion method. The chemical compounds of the hexan extract of A. ochroleuca latex were investigated using Perkin-Elmer Gas chromatography-Mass spectrometry. The latex of A. ochroleuca showed antifungal activity against D. halodes (10.60 mm) and Candidaspp. (15.06 to 20.16 mm). GC-MS analysis of the hexan extract of A. ochroleuca latex revealed that the latex contains diethyl phthalate (81.57%), 6-Nitro-imidazo(1,2-a)pyridine compound (8.833%), cyclohexasiloxane, dodecamethyl- (5.607%), 4-(2,2-Dimethyl-6-methylenecyclohexylidene)-3-methylbutan-2-one compound (2.410%) and cycloheptasiloxane, tetradecamethyl- (1.574%). These findings indicate that the latex of A. ochroleuca could be a good source of antifungal agent against D. halodes andCandida spp. and the phytocomponents present in the latex could be used against fungal pathogens.

Key words:  Argemone ochroleuca, latex, pathogenic fungi, GC-MS analysis.