Pharmacologia2044-46482044-4656Science International10.3923/pharmacologia.2018.137.143In vitro Study of Phytochemical Composition and Antifungal Activity of Dicerocaryum senecioides Leaf Extract]]>RambwawasvikaHardlife DzombaPamhidzai GwatidzoLuke 3201893Background and Objectives: Drug resistance causes fungal infections such as dandruff, athlete`s foot and ring worm to become difficult to treat. The study was undertaken to investigate the antifungal activity and phytochemical composition of Dicerocaryum senecioides extracts as an alternative remedy in primary health care. Materials and Methods: Agar well diffusion test were used to assess the antifungal activity. Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) was used to screen for the phytochemical composition of the crude extracts by visualizing the developed plates under the Ultra Violet light and staining with standard revealing agents. Results: Ethyl acetate extract showed the highest antifungal activity followed by dichloromethane, ethanol, aqueous and hexane extracts in respective order of decreasing activity. The Minimum Inhibition Concentrations (MIC) of ethyl acetate were 1.25, 2.50, 1.25 and 5.00 mg mL1 while those for dichloromethane extract were 2.50, 1.25, 0.625 and 2.50 mg mL1 for fungi strains Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxisporum and Penicillium italicum, respectively. The TLC phytochemical profile of the ethyl acetate extract revealed the presence of 8 compounds while dichloromethane extract revealed 5 compounds. The phytocompounds observed include tannins, phenolics, flavonoids, carbohydrates, glycosides, saponins, alkaloids, terpenes and steroids. Conclusion: The present study shows that Dicerocaryum senecioides moderately polar and polar extracts consist of remarkable antifungal activity and significant amount of health benefiting phytocompounds therefore it is a good candidate for searching for lead compounds to develop new antifungal therapies to deal with drug resistant fungal strains.]]>Agarwal, U., P.S. Pande, P.S. Patki and S.K. Mitra,20091063739Chandrani, D., S.Z. Lubaina and M. Soosamma,2012Malassezia spp.]]>3773780Nigam, P.K.,20156212221Nett, J.E. and D.R. Andes,2016305183Denning, D.W. and W.W. Hope,201018195204Reta, A.,20172017Benhura, M.A.N. and M. Marume,1993Dicerocaryum zanguebarium).]]>46711Mampuru, L.J., P.K. Chokoe, M.C. Madiga, A.Theron, R. Anderson and M.P. Mokgotho,2012Dicerocaryum senecioides Leaves.]]>2012pp: 97-114pp: 97-114Madiga, M.C., R. Cockeran, M.P. Mokgotho, R. Anderson and L.J. Mampuru,2009Dicerocaryum senecioides leaves exhibits remarkable anti-inflammatory activity in human T-lymphocytes.]]>239981006Chokoe, P.K.,2011Dicerocaryum senecioides.]]>2011Rambwawasvika, H., C.T. Parekh, B. Naidoo and H. Chiririwa,2017Dicerocaryum senecioides and its use a potential hair permanent.]]>13691705Van Wyk, B.E. and N. Gericke,2000Pages: 351Pages: 351Luseba, D., E.E. Elgorashi, D.T. Ntloedibe and J. van Staden, 200773378383Manyarara, T., J. Chifamba and P. Derera,2013Dicerocaryum zanguebarium and Adansonia digitata mucilage as structured vehicles.]]>416961700Sen, A. and A. Batra,2012Melia azedarach L.]]>46773Adesokan, A.A., M.A. Akanji and M.T. Yakubu,2007Enantia chlorantha stem bark.]]>625022505Ngobeni, A.,2012Euphorbia inaequilatera and Dicerocaryum senecioides.]]>2012Arora, B., P. Bhadauria, D. Tripathi and A. Sharma,2012Sapindus emarginatus: Phytochemistry & various biological activities.]]>2250257Oleszek, W., I. Kapusta and A. Stochmal,20082008pp: 519-542pp: 519-542Nostro, A., M.P. Germano, V. D'Angelo, A. Marino and M.A. Cannatelli,200030379384Waksmundzka-Hajnos, M., J. Sherma and T. Kowalska,2008Pages: 896Pages: 896Jork, H., W. Funk, W. Fischer, H. Wimmer and D.T. Burns,1990237511512Karabin, M., T. Hudcova, L. Jelinek and P. Dostalek,201615542567Swamy, M.K., M.S. Akhtar and U.R. Sinniah,20162016Li, K., Y. Diao, H. Zhang, S. Wang and Z. Zhang et al.,2011Terminalia chebula Fructus Retz. promote cutaneous wound healing in rats.]]>2011Orhan, D.D., B. Ozcelik, S. Ozgen and F. Ergun,2010165496504