In vitro Antioxidative and Antifungal Assessment of Natural Products against Causative Agents of Otomycosis and Candidiasis

The antioxidant and antifungal potential of 28 extracts from four plants was screened against two human pathogenic fungal strain Aspergillus niger (ITCC 5479) and Candida albicans (ITCC 4718) causing agents of otomycosis and candidiasis, respectively. The antioxidant potential of extracts was examined through DPPH assay, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, reducing power assay and FRAP assay followed by the determination of antifungal activity by disc diffusion method. All plant extracts were confirmed active presence of secondary metabolites despite ascorbic acid. DPPH assay exhibited highest activity (IC₅₀ 59.87μgml¹) in acetonic extract of Jatropha curcas, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity was found maximum in M.C.W. extract of Datura stramonium (97%), methanolic extract of Saraca asoca (maximum at 800 μl) showed highest reducing power and FRAP activity was reported maximum in acetonic extract of S. asoca (3.8 μMl⁻¹). Zone of inhibition in culture disc of A. niger and C. albicans was appeared highest in ethanolic extract of Lantana camara (12 ± 4.0) and acetonic extract of J. curcas (12.6 ± 2.0) respectively and no activity was observed by J. curcas against A. niger. Antioxidant potential of leaves of D. stramonium, J. curcas, L. camara and bark of S. asoca secure unknown resemblance with fungicidal action. This study strongly supported future use of these extracts for isolation of novel bioactive components to find out the accurate site of action in the fungal cell for designing antifungal drugs with minimum cytotoxicity towards the host cell.