INTRODUCTION:

Everyone is exposed to mold in the outdoor air but exposure to indoor molds can accelerate aggravated conditions for some individuals. Indoor mold fungi adversely affect human health through allergy, infection, and toxicity¹. The dependence of mankind on plant resources for their medicinal uses dates back to more than 15000 years ago. Trachyspermum ammi belonging to family Umbellifereae has antifungal properties. The essential oil extracted from Trachyspermum ammi has shown antifungal properties. The oil exhibited a broad spectrum of fungitoxic behavior²^-⁸ against most of the fungi. Jaiswal et al⁹ studied phytotoxicity of essential oil of Trachyspermum ammi. The essential oil obtained from Trachyspermum ammi has shown use against seed-borne fungi of Guar¹⁰.

Antimicrobial activity of the essential oils of plants belonging to family Umbellifereae was studied by some researchers.^11,12 The essential oils isolated from Trachyspermum ammi has shown remarkable Nematicidal action¹³ against root-knot nematode. Decoction of the seed was prepared and used for curing diarrhoea, dysentery^14,15 and stomach disorders¹⁶.

The plant has also shown antipyretic utility¹⁷. It is extensively used as antiinflammatory¹⁸.

In the Unani system the plant is used to enhance immune power of body¹⁹.

Here an attempt has been made to minimize the risk of indoor fungi by 2% grounded powder of Trachyspermum ammi seed against the Aspergillus niger and suppression of growth of other indoor fungi was also studied.

Objectives:

1. Examine the fungal colonies developed in Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) plate containing 2%

powder of Trachyspermum ammi seed..

2. Study effectiveness of 2% seed powder of Trachyspermum ammi against Aspergillus niger.

Material and Methods:

Material required:

Trachyspermum ammi seeds were collected from grocery shop at Patancheru (A.P.) and were identified by ICRISAT Patancheru (A.P.). The seeds were powdered in mortar pestle. Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) medium of Hi Media laboratories was used to prepare the medium. Petri plates (1×9 cm) containing only PDA were served as control and PDA plates containing 2% grounded seed powder of Trachyspermum ammi were prepared by adding 2% grounded seed powder of Trachyspermum ammi in PDA before autoclaving the medium, were served as treatment (Fig. 1).

Isolation of Aspergillus niger:

One plate containing PDA with 2% grounded seed powder and another with only PDA were kept open for 72 hr. in laboratory for the expression of indoor fungi on the plates. The indoor fungi were developed on the plate. The colony of Aspergillus niger was isolated in pure culture for the experiment by inoculating on PDA plates.

Table 1. Number of fungal colonies and growth of Aspergillus niger in treatment and control

Treatment	No. of colonies		Mean	Growth of A. Niger in cm		Mean	Mean Reduction (%)
Treatment	First experiment	Repeat experiment	Mean	First experiment	Repeat experiment	Mean	Mean Reduction (%)
PDA + 2 % Grounded seed powder of Trachyspermum ammi	25	29	27	1.5	1.4	1.45	69
PDA (control)	90	94	92	5.0	4.5	4.75	69

Figure 1. Plate containing PDA+ 2% grounded seed powder of Trachyspermum ammi (Treatment) and Plate with PDA (Control)

Treatment Control

Figure 2. Number of fungal colonies developed in treatment and control.

Treatment Control

Inoculation:

The pure colonies of Aspergillus niger were inoculated separately in PDA plate containing 2% grounded powder of Trachyspermum ammi seed and the plate containing only PDA (control). All plates were incubated at 260⁰C with alternate cycle of 12 h light and dark for 5 days. The whole experiment was repeated.

Observations:

The numbers of colonies of indoor fungi expressed in both the plates (in control and treatment) were counted and the growth of Aspergillus niger was measured separately in control and treatment plates after 5 days. Same observations were taken in repeated experiment.

RESULTS:

Fungal flora expression:

Ninety two fungal colonies of five genera (Cladosporium sp, Aspergillus sp, Penicillium sp, Fusarium sp, Rhizopus sp) were developed in the control plate and only 27 fungal colonies belonging to Cladosporium sp and Fusarium sp. (Fig. 2) were expressed in plate containing 2 % grounded seed powder of Trachyspermum ammi. (Table1).

Figure 3. Growth of Aspergillus niger in control and treatment.

Treatment Control

Effect on Aspergillus niger growth:

The growth of Aspergillus niger was measured separately in plates containing only PDA and plates containing 2% grounded seed powder of Trachyspermum ammi after 72 hr. of incubation. The growth of Aspergillus niger was suppressed by 69% in PDA plate containing 2 % grounded seed powder of Trachyspermum ammi compared to control plate after 5th day of inoculation (Fig. 3). This indicates that 2% Trachyspermum ammi seed powder minimizes Aspergillus niger very effectively. In repeated experiment the results were appeared same. (Table 1).

CONCLUSIONS:

Ninety-two fungal colonies were developed in control plates, whereas 27 colonies were developed in treatment plates.

Cladosporium sp, Aspergillus sp, Penicillium sp, Fusarium sp, Rhizopus sp were detected in control plates and only Cladosporium sp and Fusarium sp were detected in treatment.

Aspergillus niger growth was suppressed by 69% in the plate containing 2% grounded seed powder of Trachyspermum ammi compared to control plate.

ACHIEVEMENTS:

2% grounded seed powder of Trachyspermum ammi minimize the risk of –

Aspergillus niger by 69% and also minimize the risk of other indoor fungi except cladosporium and fusarium.

Future thrusts:

a. Study the 2% grounded seed powder of Trachyspermum ammi for antibiosis against the indoor mold fungi

b. Evaluate the antibiotic properties against these fungi

REFERENCES:

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Received on 04.04.2009 Modified on 11.07.2009

Research J. Pharm. and Tech. 3(1): Jan. - Mar. 2010; Page 76-78