Efficacy of methanol extracts of <i>Lawsonia inermis</i> L. and <i>Cymbopogon citratus</i> Stapf. against fungal isolates from poultry farms in Anambra State, Nigeria

Fungal diseases in poultry constitute a challenge to poultry productivity and public health risk to poultry workers. The aim of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of Lawsonia inermis L. and Cymbopogon citratus Stapf. leaves against fungal isolates from poultry farms. Susceptibility of fifteen species of fungi to methanol extracts of the plants leaves were assessed using disc diffusion method. Discs impregnated with different concentrations of these extracts were placed on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar plates inoculated with the test organisms. Discs with 2% DMSO and 1.25 mg/ml Nystatin served as negative and positive controls. The plates were incubated at 25°C for 48 hours and diameter of zone of inhibition measured in millimeters. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) were determined using broth dilution method. Ten moulds (66.7%) were susceptible to methanolextract of L. inermis while eight (53.3%) were inhibited by C. citratus. MIC and MFC of the extracts were recorded at ≥12.5 mg/ml and ≥50 mg/ml respectively. The leaves exhibited fungicidal activities against most tested moulds and could be explored as alternative and safer sources of new antifungal drugs.