A non-toxic antifungal compound from the leaves of Catharanthus roseus characterized as 5-hydroxy flavone by UV spectroscopic analysis and evaluation of its antifungal property by agar-cup method

The present study was taken up with a view to raise a non-hazardous, green control measure against phytopathogenic fungi. Aqueous ethanolic extract of leaves of Catharanthus roseus and its different solvent fractions were tested for their antifungal property. Highest antifungal activity was found in chloroform fraction which was subjected to thin layer chromatography and two bands were detected in solvent system benzene:methanol (95:5). Antifungal activity was located in band I and band I was found to be homogeneous in solvent systems TBA (butanol:glacial acetic acid water, 3:1:1) and HOAc (glacial acetic acid:water, 3:17). The bioactive sample was characterized as 5-hydroxy flavone by UV spectral analysis. The investigation infers that the active compound isolated from C. roseus could be a good formulation against fungal infection of plants. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.