Phytochemical Profiling and Antifungal Potential of Young Stem Extracts of Moringa oleifera Against Plant Pathogenic Fungi

Plants are natural repositories of bioactive metabolites that defend against pathogens and offer sustainable alternatives to chemical fungicides. This study assessed the phytochemical composition and antifungal efficacy of young stem extracts of Moringa oleifera. Soxhlet extraction with ethanol yielded crude extracts, which were screened for phytochemicals using standard assays. Alkaloids, carbohydrates, phenolic compounds, tannins, phytosterols, and carboxylic acids were detected, whereas flavonoids and triterpenoids were absent. Antifungal activity was evaluated against Fusarium oxysporum, Alternaria solani, and Colletotrichum capsici using poisoned food and agar well diffusion methods. Growth inhibition was dose-dependent, with maximum inhibition (72.4%) against C. capsici at 300 mg/mL. These findings highlight the potential of M. oleifera stems as eco-friendly antifungal resources.