<i>In vitro</i> the effect of ethanol extracts of <i>Senna alexandrina</i> and <i>Achillea millefolium</i> on  fungi pathogenic to plants and humans

Plant extracts are natural sources of bioactive compounds that could be used for crop protection and preserving human health. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of ethanolic extracts of Senna alexandrina leaves and Achillea millefolium flowers on the growth of some filamentous fungi and yeasts isolated from yellow corn and human. Alcoholic extract of Achillea millefolium flowers showed significant inhibitory effects against the filamentous fungi: Aspergillus flavus, A. ustus, Cladosporium oxysporum, Fusarium graminearum and Penicillium citrinum, beside the dermatophytes Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T.rubrum, T. schoenleinii, T. terrestre and T. verrucosum. The superiority of the A. millefolium flower extract over the Senna alexandrina leaves extract the growth of most of the tested fungi. There was a direct relationship between the concentrations of the alcoholic extract of A. millefolium flowers and the inhibition in halo diameters of Candida isolates. High concentrations, including (200, 150, 125, 100) mg/mL inhibited the growth of all Candida isolates, while the 25 mg/mL concentration was ineffective against any of the tested isolates. Candida krusei was the most sensitive to the alcoholic extract of Achillea flowers (inhibition halo=22 mm at a concentration of 200 mg/ mL). Candida glabrata was the most resistant. Also direct relationship was recorded between the concentration of the alcoholic extract of S. alexandrina leaves and the diameters of the inhibition halos for Candida isolates. The high concentrations (200, 150, and 125 mg/mL) inhibited the growth of all the tested isolates. Candida albicans (2) was the most sensitive, while C. glabrata, was the most resistant. The present results showed the possible use of the two plant extracts as preventing factors for the growth of fungi in plants and humans.