Abstract

The in vitro activities of water, methanol, acetone, ethanol, and chloroform extracts of garlic (Allium sativum) and Onions (Allium cepa) were investigated. For comparison, activities of commercially sold antifungals viz Nystatin, Fulcin, and Cotrimoxazole against Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium spp, Trichophyton schoeleinii, and Neurospora clasa were also investigated. The largest zone of inhibition was exerted by the ethanol and water extracts of garlic (Allium sativum) against Aspergillus niger, A. fumigatus, T. Schoeleilnii, and penicillium spp. The antifugal activity of onions was less marked while its water extracts showed no activity. The lack of inhibition on Neurospora clasa was conspicuous for both the garlic (Allium sativum) and Onions (Allium cepa) extracts. The commercial drugs were significantly more active against the tested fungi (MIC range 1.56-50ug/ml). Fulcin showed more activity than the rest of the commercial drugs tested. The activities of fulcrum for all the fungal species far surpassed those of nystatin and were even superior to those of Cotrimoxazole on Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus fumigatus. Nystatin showed a higher MIC range of 12.5-50 µg/ml for the tested fungal species. The MFC of the drugs was mostly 2-3 times their MIC values. These results suggest that overall, the fungal species tested showed more sensitivity to the commercially sold antifungals than that of the extracts.