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DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1320988
Terminalia arjuna: Exploring its fungicidal potential
Natural fungicides are desirable alternatives to anthropogenic fungicides that have
negative effects on workers who use them and the environment. We explored the fungicidal
potential of Terminalia arjuna (TA), a tree whose bark extract has recently been found to have pesticidal properties but whose fungicidal potential has not been well-researched. Enhancing the interest in its potential as a fungicide is the fact that TA has clinically-demonstrated cardiotonic properties.
We chose to explore the effects of TA on the growth of a fungus pathogenic to Hudson Valley
agriculture, Geotrichum candidum. Bioassays were conducted with an ethanolic extract of TA against G.
candidum inoculates on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) media to determine the lowest concentration of TA extract demonstrating fungicidal activity. Minimum inhibitory concentration was observed at 9.89 uM. The crude ethanolic extract was further fractionated into hexane, diethyl ether, ethyl acetate, and aqueous fractions and bioassays were conducted. The results of our study will be presented.