Inhibition Of Growth Of Fungi In Cashew And Pawpaw Fruit Juices By Aframonium melegueta And Allium sativum Extracts

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate the antifungal effect of Aframomium melegueta and Allium sativum on the growth of three fungi – Rhizopus stolonifer, Penicillium digilatum and Mucor mucido in Cashew and pawpaw
juices. The application of the extracts singly showed significant (P < 0.05) reduction of fungal biomass at 3%(v/v), 4%(v/v) and 5%(v/v). A combination of 2 % (v/v) each of both spice extracts retarded better. Partition column
chromatographic analysis revealed that ethanolic fraction of the plant produced the highest level of inhibition of growth of the test fungi compared with methanolic and petroleum ether fractions. Extracts of Aframomium
melegueta and Allium sativum may be used as preservatives in the processing of fruit juices.

Key words: Antifungal, investigate, biomass, cashew, pawpaw, juice, inhibition, preservatives.