TITLE:
Screening and Phytochemical Analysis of Some Plants Extracts against Aflatoxin Producing Fungi in Sesame, Benue State, Nigeria
AUTHORS:
M. Elaigwu, H. O. A. Oluma, C. U. Aguoru, A. Onekutu
KEYWORDS:
Aspergillus spp, Plant Extracts, Aflatoxin, Phytochemical Analysis
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.11 No.3,
March
23,
2020
ABSTRACT: This study investigated the phytochemical screening of
some plant extracts against aflatoxin producing fungi in sesame (Sesamum indicum). The plants are Prosopis africana, Psorospermum febrifugum and rhizome of Curcuma longa. Various parts of the plants were dried, grounded and
extracted in methanolic solvent. The preliminary phytochemical screening of
methanol extracts for stem bark, leaves and rhizome of Curcuma longa revealed the presence of saponins, flavonoids,
steroids, cardiac, glycosides, terpenoids, phenols and tannins. The result of
anti-aflatoxigenic activity indicates that methanol extracts of these plants
show significant activity against the fungi isolates. The effect of plants
extracts on mycelia growth of the test organism reduced the mycelia growth
significantly as compared to the control (Plate 6 (a-f)). In view of the efficacy of the activity of the
plant extracts, it could be concluded that these medicinal plants possess
antifungal properties that can be exploited for the control of aflatoxin in
sesame. Further works are needed to investigate the biological active ingredients of these plants.