Phytochemical Screening and Antifungal Activity of Bryophyluum pinnatum (Crassulaceae) Leaf Extract and Fractions
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background: Bryophyllum pinnatum is a succulent plant widely used in traditional medicine for its therapeutic properties. Recently, studies have focused on its potential antifungal properties, driven by the search for newer and safer alternative treatments due to the emergence of drug resistant strains and toxicity of available agents. This study investigated the phytochemical constituents and antifungal activity of the extract and fractions of the leaves of B. pinnatum.
Methods: The crude methanol extract of B. pinnatum was serially partitioned with hexane, ethyl acetate, and butanol; both the extract and its fractions were then evaluated for phytochemical constituents and antifungal efficacy against Aspergillus fumigatus at concentrations ranging from 25 mg/mL to 600 mg/mL.
Results: Phytochemical screening of the methanol extract revealed the presence of tannins, saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids, carbohydrates, alkaloids, and cardiac glycosides, while steroids, phenols, and anthraquinones absent. The hexane, ethyl acetate and butanol fractions were devoid of steroids, phenols, and anthraquinones; additionally, the hexane and butanol fractions lacked glycosides and terpenoids, respectively. Neither the crude extract nor any of the fractions showed visible zones of inhibition at any of the tested concentrations. In conclusion, these findings confirmed that B. pinnatum leaves contain diverse bioactive compounds across different solvent fractions.
Conclusion: The study revealed that B. pinnatum extract and fractions showed no antifungal activity against A. fumigatus, suggesting its limited potential as an antifungal agent against this fungal specie.
Downloads
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
References
Elufioye TO, Oyedeji AO, Habtemariam S. A review of the traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam) (Crassulaceae). J Biol Active Prod Nature. 2022; 12. Doi: 10.1080/22311866.2021.1988706.
Nwosu MO, Ejikeme CM, Ukaoma AA. Traditional uses of Bryophyllum pinnatum in animal health management among Nigerian livestock farmers. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 2017; 14(5): 59–65.
Yadav P, Mishra AK, Singh H. A brief review on chemistry and biological activities of Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Oken family: Crassulaceae. Orient J Chem. 2021; 37(2): 269–280.
Daniel IE, Akpan EI, Utam EC. Phytochemical evaluation, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of various extracts from leaves and stems of Bryophyllum pinnatum. Nepal J Biotechnol. 2020; 8(1): 17–28.
Akinmoladun OF, Muchenje V, Fon FN, Mpendulo CT. Ethnoveterinary practices and plant-based remedies for livestock health management among smallholder farmers. J Ani Plant Sci, 2021; 32(2): 1-9.
Pandit PD, Rode A, Jadhav A. Pharmacological activity of Bryophyllum pinnatum. Int J Pharm Res Appl. 2025; 10(1): 8-15.
Onwubuya EI, Ogbunugafor HA, Okafor CS, Oladejo AA. Acute and chronic anti-inflammatory effect of Bryophyllum pinnatum leaf extract on Wistar rats. EJMP. 2021; 32(6): 6–14.
Seyedmousavi S, Bosco SMG, De Hoog S, Ebel F, Elad D, Gomes RR, Jacobsen ID, Jensen HE, Martel A, Mignon B, Pasmans F, Pieckova E, Rodrigues AM, Sing K, Vicente VA, Wibbelt G, Wiederhold NP, Guillot J. Fungal infections in animals: a patchwork of different situations. Med Mycol. 2018; 56: S165-S187.
Denning DW, Bromley MJ. (2015). How to manage chronic fungal diseases and antifungal resistance. Sci. 2015; 347(6229): 1414-1416.
Evans WC. Trease and Evans’ Pharmacognosy (16th ed.). Saunders Elsevier. 2009.
Nnaebue ND, Anaukwu CG, Anyaoha VI, Soludo OC, Isiaka AB, Ajogwu TM, Onuorah SC. Comparative phytochemical constituents of extracts of Bryophyllum pinnatum grown in Anambra State, Nigeria. Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol. 2024; 12(1): 1-7.
Sodipo OA, Usman F, Yakubu J, Wampana B. Ethnopharmacological benefit of Nigerian indigenous Bryophyllum pinnatum leaf on convulsive rats. JPAM. 2023; 1(2): 98-105.
Kanti S, Jain S, Shrivastava S. Influence of solvent polarity and chemical nature on successive efficiency of bioactive fractions. J Pharmacogn Phytochem. 2015; 4(2): 201-206.
Okoye KF, Anowi FC, Ejiofor II, Ololade OM. Pharmacognostic study and sedative activity of Bryophyllum pinnatum stem methanol extract and fractions. Sci Phytochem. 2023; 2(2): 226-234.
Edeoga HO, Okwu DE, Mbaebie BO. (2005). Phytochemical constituents of some Nigerian medicinal plants. Afr J Biotechnol. 2005; 4(7): 685-688.
Dantani M, Musa AR, Dantani A. Antifungal activity of aqueous and ethanol extracts of Bryophyllum pinnatum against pathogenic fungi in Sokoto State, Nigeria. USci. 2025; 4(1): 200-206.
Shivani S, Avadhesh K, Dipali D, Ayush J, Ayush T, Bhanu PV, Bittu KS, Chouhan SR, Rathi JC. Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity of Bryophyllum pinnatum leaf extract. WJBPHS. 2025; 22(1): 482-486.
Ogundbemile OA, Etaware PM, Odebode AC. Application of plant-base fungicides to control aflatoxigenic fungi producing mycotoxins in stored cowpea seeds. J Biotechnol Biomed. 2020; 3(1): 1-9.
Pinto A, Botelho MJ, Churro C, Asselman J, Pereira P, Pereira JL. (2023). Methods and limitations in antimicrobial diffusion assays: overcoming molecular weight and solubility restrictions. J Microbiol Methods. 2023; 205, Article 106684.doi.org.
Eloff JN. (2019). Avoiding pitfalls in determining antimicrobial activity of plant extracts and publishing results. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2019; 19(1): 158.