Phytochemical screening and in-vitro antifungal activity of balanites aegyptiaca extracts against candida albicans and aspergillus flavus

Abstract

Fungal infections caused by Candida albicans and Aspergillus flavus pose major public health challenges, particularly in regions with limited access to effective antifungal drugs and increasing resistance to existing therapies. Although Balanites aegyptiaca is widely used in traditional medicine, its antifungal potential remains insufficiently studied. The study evaluated extracts against C. albicans, a causative agent of candidiasis, and A. flavus, a mycotoxin-producing fungus, to determine their therapeutic potential and relevance in managing fungal infections. Leaves stem bark, and root bark of B. aegyptiaca were collected from disease-free trees in Katakwi District, Uganda, washed, air-dried, pulverized, and stored under sterile conditions. Crude extracts were prepared via successive maceration using methanol, dichloromethane, and n-hexane. Qualitative phytochemical screening detected saponins, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, anthraquinones, coumarins, cardiac glycosides, terpenoids, and starch. Antifungal activity against C. albicans and A. flavus was evaluated using the agar-well diffusion method. Experiments were conducted in triplicate, and zones of inhibition were measured. Data were analysed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test in STATA 14.0, with P < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Methanol proved the most effective solvent for extracting phytochemicals from B. aegyptiaca, yielding higher crude extract quantities than dichloromethane and n-hexane. Phytochemical screening identified alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, coumarins, cardiac glycosides, and phytosterols in leaves, stem bark, and root bark, with methanolic extracts containing the broadest range of compounds. Sour varieties generally had higher phenolic content than sweet ones. Antifungal assays showed methanolic extracts had the strongest activity, producing inhibition zones up to 23.67 mm against C. albicans and 23.00 mm against A. flavus, particularly in stem and root bark. Dichloromethane (DCM) extracts exhibited moderate antifungal activity, while n-hexane was least effective, except for some moderate inhibition of A. flavus by non-polar compounds. Polar solvents, particularly methanol, efficiently extracted bioactive compounds from B. aegyptiaca, with the sweet variety yielding more than the sour. Crude extracts inhibited C. albicans and A. flavus, suggesting combined plant parts may enhance antifungal efficacy.