Antifungal Activity of Extracts Biarum carduchorum (Kardeh) on Aspergillus fumigatus and Penicillium expansum in Vitro

Background Plants provide the probability of a strategy in exploration for new drugs. Infectious diseases, which account for the significant ratio of the health problems, are most frequently catered for by this system of medicine. Objectives The aim of this study is to investigate the antimicrobial effect of Biarum carduchorum (Kardeh) on Aspergillus fumigatus and Penicillium expansum in vitro. Materials and Methods In this experimental study the antibacterial activity of methanol and aqueous extracts of Biarum carduchorum against 2 laboratory strains of fungi (Aspergillus fumigatus and Penicillium expansum), were evaluated with using paper disk methods, Collins method, minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC). Results The methanolic extract inhibited the growth of all tested microorganisms. The phytochemical analysis of the methanolic extract of B. carduchorum revealed the presence of phenolics (+++), alkaloids (+++), tannins (++), flavonoids (++), saponins (+), phlobatanins (+), anthraquinones (+), terpenes (++) and cardiac glycosides (+). The result showed that MIC of B. carduchorum leaves of the aqueous and methanolic extracts for P. expansum and A. fumigatus was 32, 8, 16, 4 mg/mL respectively. The aqueous and methanolic extracts MFC of B. carduchorum leaves for P. expansum was 64 and 32 mg/mL respectively. Conclusions The presence of antibacterial activity in different fractions indicates that the extract possesses different compounds, which have different activities. The result of this study suggests that the methanolic and aqueous extracts of B. carduchorum could be suitable for the treatment on the microorganisms associated with infections.