Phytochemical Screening and Antifungal Evaluation of Leaf Extracts of Nephrolepis undulata Afzel. Ex Sw. (Nephrolepidaceae) against selected Fungi

Abstract

Nephrolepis undulata (sword fern) is a medicinal plant used traditionally for treatment of various ailments including stomach ache, infections and cough. Therefore, the objective of this study is to undertake a phytochemical screening and antifungal activity evaluation of leaf extracts of Nephrolepis undulata Afzel. Ex Sw. (Nephrolepidaceae) against selected fungi (Aspergilus fumigatus, Rhodotorula mucilagenosa, Trichophyton rubrum, Mucor indicus, Candida parapsilosis and Cryptococcus neoformans) using appropriate methods. Phytochemical screening was done using standard methods of analyses while antifungal evaluation of the extracts was done using the agar diffusion method. Phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, anthracene derivative, carbohydrate, flavonoid and saponin in the methanol, chloroform and petroleum ether extracts. Tannins was present in the methanol extract but absent in chloroform and petroleum ether extracts. The antifungal sensitivity test revealed that the extracts had concentration dependent inhibitory activities against the clinical isolates used in the study; with the methanol extract having the best and broadest spectrum of activity. It had the lowest Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of 0.3 mg/mL against A. fumigatus. However, its activity was only next to Ketoconazole, the reference drug. The extracts contained active phytochemicals which may be responsible for the varied antifungal actions of the extracts. These positive finding validates the ethnomedicinal application of the plant in the management of various ailments and further demonstrates the applicability of the plant as a possible raw material, in the pharmaceutical industry.