Potential antifungal activity of methanolic leaves extract of andrographis paniculata against fungus isolated from Pantry of Level 15, FSK 6, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiTM Selangor, Puncak Alam / Siti Rahimah Yusof

Environmental fungi cause harm to the individuals especially for those with underlying medical disorders. Andrographis paniculata commonly known as “King of Bitters”, belongs to Acanthaceae family and is native to India, and Sri Lanka. Previous study revealed that A.paniculata leaves extract has antifungal effects on Penicillium species and Aspergillus flavus. Thus, this study was carried out to evaluate the potential of A.paniculata leaves as natural antimycotic agent against an isolated fungi from Pantry of Level 15, FSK 6, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiTM Selangor, Puncak Alam. By using sterile swab, the site of fungi infestation was swabbed and inoculated on sabouraud dextrose agar. The plate incubated at room temperature (25 -27 xii ◦ C) for 3 – 15 days. The fungi was subcultured from the first isolation for pure culture. With the aid of literature references, the fungi was identified based on macroscopic and microscopic morphology. The genus of isolated fungi was presumptively identified as Cladosporium species. Then, the methanolic crude extract of Andrographis paniculata leaves that had been stored for 1 year at 4ᵒC was tested on the isolated fungi to evaluate its antifungal activity using disk diffusion method at concentrations of 1000, 500, 250, 125, 62.5 and 31.25 mg/mL respectively. The antifungal susceptibility test showed no zones of inhibition for all the extract concentrations tested including the positive control (Voriconazole, 1µg). The study revealed that methanolic leaves extract of Andrographis paniculata used did not show any inhibitory effect on the Cladosporium species. This probably due to prolonged storage of the crude extract resulting in degradation of bioactive antifungal components.