Abstract

A STUDY TO DETERMINE TOTAL PHENOLIC CONTENT OF OPUNTIA FICUS-INDICA EXTRACTS AND THEIR ACTIVITY AGAINST SOME PATHOGENIC FUNGI

N. Hajar*, A. Nawal and D. Amjad

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to determine total phenolic content Of cactus plant extracts (Opuntia ficus-indica) and their activity against some pathogenic fungi. The results of analysis of total phenolic content of methanolic extracts by using spectrophotometer device showed high content, that was found in fruits extract reached 31.516 mg GAE /g DW, followed by flowers 53.02 mg GAE /g DW and cladodes 14.75 mg GAE /g DW. The effectiveness of the methanolic extracts was determined against two species of fungi (Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus). The study showed a difference in efficacy of studied extracts in inhibiting the growth of studied fungi, the methanolic extracts of cladodes, flowers and fruits inhibited the growth of A.fumigatus by ratio reached (89.57, 100, 78.66) % respectively at concentration 1000 mg/ml, while inhibited the growth of A.flavus by ratio reached (85.40, 87.83, 78.10) % at the same of previous concentration. Fluconazole with concentrations (1.25, 2.5, 5, 10) mg/ml was used as a standard drug for antifungal study, which inhibited the growth of A.fumigatus and A.flavus by ratio reached (75.15, 81.75) % respectively at concentration 10 mg/ml.

Keywords: Opuntia ficus-indica; Methanolic extract; Total Phenolic Content; Fungi; Fluconazole.