Abstract

The phytochemical properties of aqueous leaf extract of Tectona grandis (Teak) was evaluated and the inhibitory efficacy of the leaf extract against test fungi, Rhizopus stolonifer and Aspergillus niger, was evaluated. The efficacy or antifungal activities of the crude aqueous extract of the teak plant leaves were evaluated using the agar well/disc diffusion method using various concentrations (100%, 75%, 50% and 25%) of the leaf extract and measuring the diametric zones of inhibition in millimeters (mm); against the use of chemical antifungal agent, Ketoconazole as the control and distilled water. The result of phytochemical constituent of the aqueous leaf extract of Tectona grandis showed that, Tannin, Saponin and Steroid were present and were much more than Terpenoid, while Alkaloid, Flavonoid and Glycoside were completely absent in the leaf extract of Tectona grandis. The 25% and 50% of the extract recorded inhibition on the fungal mycelia in 24h, and the inhibition at higher concentration of 75% and 100% recorded significantly higher inhibition. The higher the concentration of the aqueous leaf extracts the higher the inhibitory efficacy. The leaf extract of T. grandis can be employed as an antifungal agent to the selected fungi and may be to many more fungi.