ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITIES OF Moringa oleifera ETHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACT AGAINST Aspergillus niger

Aspergillus niger is a filamentous fungus commonly found in soil, decaying organic matter, and indoor environments. While it is widely used in various industrial applications, it is also an opportunistic pathogen capable of causing severe infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. The increasing resistance of fungi to conventional antifungal treatments has underscored the need for alternative remedies. Moringa oleifera is known for its medicinal properties and has demonstrated antimicrobial effects against a range of pathogens. In this study, fresh Moringa oleifera leaves were collected, authenticated, and processed for ethanolic extraction at the University of the Philippines–Los Baños (UPLB) Chemistry Institute. The extract was subsequently tested against A. niger at BIOTECH-UPLB, using varying concentrations (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%). The fungal isolate, Aspergillus niger (accession number BIOTECH 3225), was obtained from the Philippine National Collection of Microorganisms (PNCM), a recognized repository for microbial strains in the Philippines. Itraconazole was used as the positive control. A t-test was conducted to compare the antifungal effects of the 100% Moringa oleifera ethanolic leaf extract and Itraconazole against A. niger. The results showed that the Moringa extract produced no inhibition zones (0 mm), while Itraconazole demonstrated significant inhibition (13.86 mm and 12.38 mm). The t-test revealed a statistically significant difference (p = 0.000), indicating that Itraconazole is significantly more effective than the Moringa extract in inhibiting A. niger growth. These findings suggest that the ethanolic leaf extract of Moringa oleifera lacks antifungal activity against A. niger under the tested conditions. However, further research is warranted—exploring different plant parts, extraction methods, or fungal targets—to fully assess the broader antimicrobial potential of M. oleifera.