Antifungal activity of fractions and compounds from <i>Pterocarpus erinaceus</i> poir.1804, (Fabaceae) on selected wood fungi

Abstract

Extract fractions and compounds from the heartwood and stem bark of Pterocarpus erinaceus were evaluated for antifungal properties. Extraction of the dry and pulverized plant materials was carried out with hexane, ethyl acetate and then methanol. The extracts were fractionated and purified using column chromatography over silica gel to yield p-ethoxylphenylpropanoic acid, angolensin, mixture of sitosterol, stigmasterol and cycloeucalenol from heartwood while friedelane-3-one and lupeol were obtained from the stem bark. The fractions and compounds were active against the test fungi (Aspergillus fumigatus, Coniophora puteana, Fibroporia vaillantii, Fomitopsis pinicoca, Gloeophyllum sepiarium Phaeolus schweinitzii, Rhizopus sp., Serpula lacrymans and Sclerotium rolfsii) at zone of inhibition ranging from 17 – 24 mm. Fibroporia vaillantii showed resistance to the control antibiotic (Ketoconazole and Fluonazole) but was sensitive to five of the fractions. The minimum inhibitory concentration observed was 50 μg/mL against 9 test fungi while the minimum fungicidal concentration was 200 μg/mL.