Efficacy of bioactive compounds isolated from Albizia amara and Albizia saman as source of antifungal and antiaflatoxigenic agents

The antifungal and antiaflatoxigenic activities of budmunchiamine A (BUA) isolated from Albizia amara and pithecolobine (PI) isolated from Albizia saman were assessed. The present study reports the broad-spectrum and concentration-dependent antifungal activities of BUA and PI with zone of inhibitions and minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 6.8 to 19.6 mm and 0.015-0.5 mg/mL, respectively. Aspergillus flavus growth and its aflatoxin B-1 production were completely inhibited in vitro by BUA and PI at concentration of 1 mg/mL. BUA severely inhibited the growth of wide range of seed-borne fungi of maize including aflatoxigenic A. flavus with an increased seedling vigour index in vivo at a lower concentration (1.0 g/kg) than PI (2.0 g/kg). Enhanced seedling vigour was observed in BUA and PI treatments with no adverse effect on seed germination. The present findings indicate the possible use of BUA and PI as antifungal agents against post harvest fungal infestation of food commodities and mycotoxin contamination.