Abstract

Preliminary screening of both methanol and aqueous extracts of the stem and root of Distemonanthus benthmianus, Treculia africana, Garcinia kola and Anogessus leiocarpus was carried out to test for antifungal activity. This was investigated using disc diffusion technique by measuring the zone of inhibition of the fungi after infusion with the plant extract. This produced definite antifungal activity against the dermatophytes used which were Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus. Distemonanthus benthmianus and Anogessus. leiocarpus extracts exhibited antifungal activity at 0.97mg/ml concentration against Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus. There was significant difference (PË‚0.05) in fungicidal activity in the methanolic and aqueous extracts. However, between the methanolic and aqueous extracts, there is no significant difference.

Key words: Antifungal, dermatophytes, crude extract, fungicidal activity.