Antifungal activity in vitro of Baccharis glutinosa and Ambrosia confertiflora extracts on Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus and Fusarium verticillioides

The aims of this study were to evaluate the antifungal properties of Baccharis glutinosa and Ambrosia confertiflora extracts against Aspergillus flavus, A. parasiticus and Fusarium verticillioides, and to isolate the group of compounds that are responsible for the antifungal activity. Samples of aerial parts from each plant were extracted with 70% methanol and sequentially partitioned with hexane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol. The partitioned fractions were evaluated in their capacity to inhibit the radial growth of the three species of fungi. The active fraction was used for an assay-guided chromatography of antifungal extracts. The results showed that the extract from B. glutinosa partitioned in ethyl acetate (Bea) showed the highest antifungal activity against the three fungi. Bea completely inhibited the growth of F. verticillioides at 0.8 mg/ml, whereas the radial growth of A. flavus and A. parasiticus was inhibited 70% at 1.5 mg/ml. The purified antifungal fraction from Bea showed 72, 54, and 52% of antifungal activity, respectively.