In vitro Antifungal and Phytotoxic Study of Metabolites Extracted from Aspergillus flavus

Aspergillus flavus is one of the most important plant as well as human pathogen. A. flavus, has gained worldwide attention for its industrial use and toxigenic potential. Besides their pathogenicity, A. flavus produces a wide range of secondary metabolites, used in food and pharmaceuticals industry. To determine the bioactivity of A. flavus, it was isolated from soil of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Crude metabolites were extracted through broth culture in bulky quantity under shaking condition. EtOAc and n-hexane fraction were checked for in vitro screening. Crude metabolites show a significant results against tested bacterial strains, insects and weeds. The crude metabolites showed a moderate effect against fungal pathogen, inhibiting only the growth of Candida albicans (80±1.414 % inhibition), while moderate active against Penicillium notatum, Aspergillus fumigatus and Acromonium alternatum (44.88±0.77, 66.66±1.4 and 53.33±0.0 % inhibition, respectively), while showed no activity against Verticillium chlamydosporium (0±0 mm).The EtOAc fraction was more active as compared to n-hexane fraction and at a higher concentration (1000 μg/mL) showed a significant activity (90%) against L. minor. At 100 μg/mL, a good activity was recorded (70%), while at a low concentration (10 μg/mL), a moderate activity (40%) was observed. The n-hexane fraction exhibited a moderate activity (40%) at a higher concentration (1000 μg/mL). Further it was evaluated that EtOAc was more active than n-hexane fraction. It was concluded that the A. flavus have a potential to produce a bioactive secondary metabolites. Compounds of A. flavus should be exploited for the development of phytotoxic, insecticidal and antifungal compounds.