Antifungal Activity of Aqueous Extract of Dormant Fruits of Hyphaene thebaica (Palmae)

Aqueous extract of the dormant fruits derived from Hyphaene thebaica was tested for in vitro antifungal activity using the agar dilution method. The extract was found to produce significant antifungal activity against a wide range of fungal isolates including Candida albicans, Microsporum gypseum, Trichophyton rubrum, Mucor sp., Fusarium solani and Aspergillus niger. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the extract ranged between 3.1 to 25% v/v. The dermatophytic fungi (Microsporum gypseum and Trichophyton rubrum) were more susceptible to the antifungal effects of the extract (MIC 3.1) while Candida albicans found to be least susceptible (MIC 25). The findings indicate that this material may have value in the treatment of fungal diseases, pending the results of further studies.