Antifungal activity of castor (Ricinus communis L.) leaves methanolic extract on Aspergillus niger
2019
Carolina, A. | Herliyana, E. N. | Sulastri, H.
Aspergillus niger is the most common fungus causing food spoilage and bio-deterioration. It is also a type of seed-borne fungus that can lower the seed viability. A. niger is very fast growing and difficult to control. Usually, fungicides are used to protect plants from fungal attacks. In the present work, the potential use of the methanolic extract of castor (Ricinus communis L.) leaves as a natural antifungal compound against A. niger isolated from stored groundnuts was investigated. The bioactive compound was also determined by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Extraction of castor leaves was done by maceration using methanol as solvent. The yield of the extract was 10.64%. The antimicrobial activity against A. niger was determined by biomass growth inhibition test. The results showed that the extract at 500 µg/mL inhibited the fungal growth (71.46%). The presence of compounds in the methanolic extract of castor leaves was assumed to be toxic against A. niger. Based on GC-MS results, ricinine was the main compound in the methanolic extract of castor leaves. The potency of antifungal activity of castor methanolic extract may support its usage as renewable fungal toxicant in stored food.
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