ABSTRACT:
Recent studies have tended towards the production and use of plant extracts in biological control; it has characterized their effectiveness and availability. In addition to being inexpensive and not polluting. Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the antifungal activity of five extracts of Cyclamen hederifolum tubers. Common uses of Cyclamen hederifolum include menstrual diseases, treatment of emotional/neurological disorders, digestive problems, purgative and anthelmintic. Methods: Plant extracts were prepared with Methanol by steeping extraction method, and were evaluated in vitro by poison food technique poison food technic (pft). The results of antifungal activity were recorded as the diameter (cm) of fungal colony zone in treated Petri dishes compared with a control (untreated Potato Dextrose Agar medium). Results: High significant inhibitory effect on radial fungal growth was observed at different concentrations of the extract in this study. The most sensitive fungi to the extract is P. oxypansum which was inhibited completely (100 %) starting from a concentration of 5%. The results revealed that C. hederifolum methanolic extract had a strong antifungal activity with significant inhibition on the growth of the all tested fungi: Aspergillius niger, Cladosporium cladosporioides and Penicillium expansum at 6% concentration. At higher concentration (8-10%), the methanolic extract exhibited moderate antifungal activity against A. niger ,and comparatively low antifungal activity against C. cladosporied. Application of metanolic extract at 80 mg/ml concentration inhibited completely (100%) the growth of p. exypansum, whereby stimulated the growth (11.91%) at 100 mg /ml concentration Conclusion: This study shows that some plant extracts can be used as natural fungicides.