ANTIMYCOTIC SCREENING OF 58 MALAYSIAN PLANTS AGAINST PLANT-PATHOGENS

Ethanolic extracts of 58 Malaysian plants belonging to 24 different fa milies were screened for antifungal activity against seven plant patho gens using the filter paper disc diffusion technique. Two varieties of Piper betle, showed strong activity against all the pathogens tested (Colletotrichum capsici, Fusarium pallidoroseum, Botryodiplodia theobr omae, Alternaria alternata, Penicillium citrinum, Phomopsis caricae-pa payae and Aspergillus niger), with inhibition diameters significantly (P < 0.01) bigger than 2.5 mg ml(-1) prochloraz or 10 mg ml(-1) clotri mazole. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of the ethanolic extract s of P. betle against these plant pathogens ranged between 0.01 mg ml( -1) and 1 mg ml(-1). Thirty-four other plants (Kucing gala, Limau bati k, Bertholletia excelsa, Bixa orellana, Caesalpinia pulcherrima, Cerbe ra odollam (fruits and leaves), Colocasia gigantea, Curcuma domestica, Curcuma manga, Derris eliptica, Elephantopus scaber, Eleusine indica, Eugenia polyantha, Euphorbia hirta, Euphorbia tirucalli, Gardenia flo rida, Hedyotis auricularia, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Juniperus chinensi s (three varieties), Lawsonia inermis, Lecythis ollaria, Mentha arvens is, Mimusops elengi, Ocimum sanctum, Phyllanthus niruri, Piper nigrum, Piperomia pellucida, Pedilanthus tithymaloides, Polygonum minus, Spon dias dulcis, Solanum nigrum, Tinospora tuberculata) showed selective a ntifungal activity, while 21 species were inactive.