Evaluation of Phytochemical Composition and Antifungal Potential of Millingtonia hortensis Leaf Extract

Millingtonia hortensis, commonly known as the Indian cork tree, has been traditionally used in Southern Asian medicine for various therapeutic purposes. This study aimed to investigate the antifungal properties of M. hortensis leaf extract and evaluate its potential as a natural alternative to synthetic antifungal agents. Leaf samples were collected, authenticated, and subjected to aqueous and methanolic extraction. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, terpenoids, tannins, phenolic compounds, and proteins. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was assessed using the DPPH free radical scavenging assay, while the antifungal potential was evaluated through the agar-well diffusion method against selected fungal strains. The aqueous extract yielded 4.4% w/w, while the methanolic extract yielded 2.9% w/w. Both extracts demonstrated significant antioxidant activity, with the methanolic extract showing slightly higher potency. The antifungal assay revealed dose-dependent inhibition of fungal growth, with the highest concentration (300 μg/ml) exhibiting the maximum zone of inhibition. Ketoconazole served as a positive control, while 10% DMSO was used as a negative control. The results suggest that M. hortensis leaf extract possesses promising antifungal properties, likely attributed to its rich phytochemical composition. This study provides a foundation for further research into the development of novel, plant-based antifungal therapies and highlights the potential of M. hortensis as a source of bioactive compounds for pharmaceutical applications