Susceptibility of drug-resistant fungal isolates to aqueous extracts of <i>Cymbopogon citratus</i> and <i>Borreria verticillata</i>.

The antifungal efficacy of aqueous leaf extracts of Cymbopogen citratus and Borreia vertiallata on Fluconazole (FLU) and Itraconazole (ITR) resistant fungal isolates obtained from spoilt fruits was determined using the disc diffusion method. Spoilt fruits (pawpaw, grapevine and tomatoes) samples were obtained randomly from three different markets in Uyo and analyzed mycologically. Leaf extracts of Borreria verticilata and Cymbopogon citratus were screened for bioactive constituents. Fungal isolates were tested with Fluconazole and Itraconazole to obtain resistant isolates. Drug-resistant isolates were then treated with leaf extracts of Borreria verticillata and Cymbopogon citratus at 50mgml-1 and 100mgml-1 concentrations. Fungal isolates obtained from the diseased fruits were Aspergillus niger (29.3%), Aspergillus terreus (14.6%), A. ochraceus (21.9%) Fusarium verticilloides (12.2%), Purpureocillium lilacinum (14.6%) and Aspergillus flavus (7.3%). Both plants' Phytochemical constituents revealed Alkaloids, Flavanoid, Saponins, Tannins, Anthraquinones, Cardiac glycosides, Phlobotanins and Reducing sugars in varying amounts. Out of the 42 fungal isolates, 66.6 % and 57.1 % were resistant to Fluconazole and Itraconazole respectively. The result of the treatment of the drug-resistant isolates to aqueous extracts of B. verticillata and C. citratus had the highest zones of inhibitions (23.6mm) on A. niger and (20.4mm) on A. flavus respectively. In contrast, the smallest inhibition zones were observed on A. flavus (10.5 mm) and A. terreus (14.0 mm). Given that both plant extracts exhibited fungicidal activity against these isolates, it can be inferred that they are potential alternative treatments for fungal infections, particularly when these pathogens resist conventional antifungal drugs.