Antimycotic activity of Hemigraphis colorata (Blume)

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of Hemigraphis colorata leaf extracts on
various fungal strains. Materials and Methods: Leaves of H. colorata were extracted with the hydroethanolic
and aqueous methods of extraction. A preliminary phytochemical analysis was done and confirmed by the
high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis. Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis,
Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus, and Trichoderma were the fungal organisms used for the study. Extractive values
and qualitative analysis were found from the crude extracts. Results and Discussion: The flavonoids were
confirmed by HPTLC analysis. Among the fungal organisms, tested aqueous extract had exhibited a maximum
zone of inhibition for C. albicans, and C. tropicalis and the hydroethanolic extract exhibited the zone of
inhibition for C. tropicalis alone. Conclusion: From the results obtained, it is interpreted that the presence of
flavonoids was mainly responsible for antimycotic (antifungal) activity exhibited by the H. colorata leaves
which were selective among the fungal strains. Further descriptive studies are needed to confirm the exact
mechanism of action to know about how the extracts exhibit antimycotic activity and to elucidate the structureactivity
relationships.