Antifungal Potency of Common Weed Plant Sphaeranthus Indicus L.

Nowadays predominately used synthetic chemical fungicides due to their non-degradable nature; found to impose serious issues to human health and also to the environment. To combat this issue; several in vitro and in vivo research reports have been generated on post-harvest treatment using plant extracts and essential oils to control fungal spoilage and thereby enhancing the shelf-life of fruits and vegetables. Plant-based antifungal components have a target specific effect and are bio-degradable in nature. Thus botanical extracts are eco-friendly in nature and can serve a best alternative to the hazardous synthetic chemicals. In the present study, a common weed plant Sphaeranthus indicus L commonly known as 'Gorakhmundi' was evaluated for the presence of antifungal potential against eleven plant pathogenic fungal strains. Also a comparative phyto-chemical chromatographic profile was developed for the prepared extracts for later comparison of extracts and different components present. Antifungal screening assay in the present study has revealed that extracts of Sphaeranthus indicus L was found to possess potential antifungal property.