Effect of mangrove plant extract on growth of four fungal pathogens

In vitro assessment of the antifungal activities was evaluated in the present study for both aqueous and ethanol extracts prepared from leaves of Avicennia Marina and Rhizophora Mucronata. Leaves of mangrove species were collected from Qeshm and Syrik of south-east coast of Iran, mangrove forest respectively. Antimicrobial tests were carried out through disk diffusion method. Minimum fungicidal concentration was determined according to Agar Dilution method. Results showed that the ethanol extracts of both species had antifungal activities on P. pupurogenome, P. chrysogenum, P. notatum, A. niger, A. alternata and Penicillium italicum. However, none of the water extracts showed antimicrobial activity on the studied fungi. Among all pathogens tested, A. flavus was the most resistant fungi. Different concentrations of extracts from Avicennia Marina and Rhizophora Mucronata exhibited different degree of growth inhibition against tested fungal strains. This study indicates the capability of mangrove species for the utilization as source of natural antifungal.