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EVALUATION OF THE ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITIES OF Senna occidentalis AND Boswellia dalzielii LEAVES EXTRACTS ON SOME FUNGAL ISOLATES
B.A. Hauwa'u, A.S. Sa'adatu, M.T. Bello, U.B. Sumayya and U. Aisha

ABSTRACT
Many plants in Nigeria were investigated and used against infectious diseases caused by pathogenic fungi. The methanol and n-hexane leaves crude extraction methods were chosen for Senna occidentalis and Boswellia dalzielii were evaluated and compared for antifungal activity using agar incorporation method. The fungal isolates used were C. albicans, C. pseudotropicalis, A. niger and A. flavus. Both S. occidentalis and B. dalzielii inhibited the growth of C. albicans, C. pseudotropicalis, A. niger and with little effect against A. flavus at 10, 20 and 30mg/ml concentrations. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranged from 3.75-30mg/ml while the minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) ranged from 7.5-30mg/ml. The phytochemical constituents of S. occidentalis and B. dalzielii extracts were flavonoid, tannins, saponins, saponin glycoside, cardiac glycosides, steroid, alkaloid, balsam and volatile oil. The toxicity studies of the methanol leaves extract of Senna occidentalis and Boswellia dalzielii, both the acute and sub- acute test did not produce any toxic effect on the test animal. In Nigeria, there were urgent needs and pursuit for medicinal plants for various treatments of fungal infections; study findings of this nature suggest the use of Senna occidentalis and Boswellia dalzielii as a potential alternative source of antifungal agents.


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