Comparative Evaluation of the Antifungal activity of Calotropis procera Extract and Carbendazim Against Aspergillus niger

This study aimed to evaluate the antifungal activity of Calotropis procera extracts against Aspergillus niger, comparing it to the effectiveness of the synthetic fungicide Carbendazim. The active compounds were characterized using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Two extracts were used: an alcoholic leaf extract and an aqueous milky latex extract. Antifungal activity was assessed using a well diffusion assay at concentrations of 25%, 50%, and 100%.The alcoholic leaf extract showed moderate inhibitory activity, while the aqueous milky latex extract exhibited significantly higher activity, with 100% of the aqueous milky latex extract demonstrating greater effectiveness than the chemical fungicide.HPLC analysis revealed a spectrum of phenolic and flavonoid compounds, with rutin exhibiting the highest concentration among the detected compounds, suggesting its potential role in the fungicide's biological activity. The results indicate that the aqueous extract of the milky latex of C. procera has antifungal activity that is superior or equal to that of the chemical pesticide under the study conditions.