Antifungal activity of some extractives and constituents of Aloe vera

Abstract

Dried latex (Aloe drug) and extractives of Aloe vera obtained by hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol were tested with the aim of assessing their activity against some phytopathogenic fungi and understanding the chemical nature of the active principles present in them. The activity of the extractives against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Colletotrichum capsici and Fusarium solani were assessed by poisoned food technique and their activity against Cladosporium cucumerinum was assessed by thin layer chromatographic bioautography. Polar extractives obtained by methanol and ethyl acetate showed higher activity than non-polar extractive obtained by hexane. The extractives showed higher activity against Colletotrichum species than F. solani. Two constituents, namely aloin and aloe-emodin were identified as active principles by their activity against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Cladosporium cucumerinum.