ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF COLD AND HOT WATER EXTRACT OF SELECTED READY TO USE PLANT-BASED SPICES
EVERISTUS CHIDERA AJAEGBU1*, IKE OLUKA2
1. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Enugu State University of Science and Technology.
2. Department of Agricultural and Bioresource Engineering, Enugu State University of Science and Technology
Afr. J Pharm Res Dev; Volume 18(1): 549-561 ; 2026
ABSTRACT
The rising challenge of antifungal resistance has spurred interest in natural plant-based alternatives. This study investigated the phytochemical composition and antifungal activity of hot- and cold-water extracts of five common spices (Thymus vulgaris, Curcuma longa, Zingiber officinale, Allium sativum, and Mentha spp.) against Penicillium spp., Aspergillus spp., and Fusarium spp. Phytochemical screening showed that hot-water extracts yielded a broader spectrum of metabolites, notably saponins and cardiac glycosides, compared to cold extracts. Results revealed that hot-water extracts exhibited stronger antifungal activity across most spices. Turmeric was most effective against Penicillium spp., producing inhibition zones of 23.40 ± 0.01 mm (cold extract) and 25.60 ± 0.20 mm (hot extract), with MFC values of 250 mg·mL⁻¹ (cold extract) and 250 mg·mL⁻¹ (hot extract) respectively. Thyme showed fungicidal effects against Penicillium spp. at 500 mg·mL⁻¹ (cold extract) and 250 mg·mL⁻¹ (hot extract), but no detectable activity against Fusarium spp. Garlic and ginger showed moderate but selective effects, with garlic active against Aspergillus spp. (inhibition zone 11.82 ± 0.02 mm; MFC 500 mg·mL⁻¹, hot extract only) and ginger fungicidal against Penicillium spp. (inhibition zone: 12.08±0.05 mm and 10.15 ± 0.18 mm at MFC 500 mg·mL⁻¹, for cold and hot extract respectively). Mint extracts displayed weak activity, restricted to Aspergillus spp. at (inhibitory zone: 10.60 ± 0.18, MFC at 500 mg·mL⁻¹ (hot extract), with no detectable fungicidal effect against Penicillium or Fusarium spp.
Keywords: Antifungal activity; Hot-water extraction; Cold-water extraction; Spices, Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC).
Email of correspondence: evansajaegbu@gmail.com;
https://doi.org/10.59493/ajopred/2026.1.16 ISSN: 0794-800X (print); 1596-2431 (online)