Souwalak Phongpaichit, Nongyao Pujenjob, Vatcharin Rukachaisirikul and Metta Ongsakul

pp. 741 - 748

Abstract

Crude methanol extracts from leaves of Cassia alata, Cassia fistula and Cassia tora were investigated
for their antifungal activities on three pathogenic fungi (Microsporum gypseum, Trichophyton rubrum and
Penicillium marneffei). Among 3 species, C. alata was the most effective leaf extract against T. rubrum and
M. gypseum with the 50% inhibition concentration (IC₅₀) of hyphal growth at 0.5 and 0.8 mg/ml, respectively,
whereas the extract of C. fistula was the most potent inhibitor of P. marneffei with the IC₅₀ of 0.9 mg/ml.
In addition, it was found that all three Cassia leaf extracts also affected M. gypseum conidial germination.
Microscopic observation revealed that the treated hyphae and macroconidia with leaf extracts were
shrunken and collapsed, which might be due to cell fluid leakage.

Keywords

• Cassia alata
• Cassia fistula
• Cassia tora
• antifungal