ABSTRACT
Allium sativum (Garlic) and Zingiber officinale (Ginger) are herbaceous, perennial and monocotyledonous plants, with several medicinal and nutritional values. The formation and physical appearance of black mould spots and patches on walls and floors indicate the presence of fungi. The aim of this study was to determine the antifungal activities of Allium sativum and Zingiber officinale on fungal isolates from some Bathrooms.
Bulbs of Allium sativum and rhizomes of Zingiber officinale were obtained from New Benin Market, Benin City, Edo State. Ethanol and water were used for the extraction of the phytochemical components. Swab samples were collected from the walls of the three (3) Postgraduate Student Hostels’ Bathrooms, before and after cleaning. The fungal isolates were characterized using the standard microbiological techniques. Antifungal susceptibility of four concentrations of each plant extracts was carried out on the isolates, the mycelia extended growth rate of each fungus were measured and the percentage mycelia growth inhibition calculated.
The mean fungal counts of the bathroom walls ranged from 0.20 ± 0.20 to 6.20 ± 0.38 x 104 cfu/cm2 before cleaning and from 0.00 ± 0.00 to 1.00 ± 0.02 x 104 cfu/cm2 after cleaning. Thirteen (13) fungal isolates were characterized to include the following: Aspergillus nidulans, A. niger, A. tamarii, A. fumigatus, A. flavus, Penicillium cyclopium, P. oxalicum, Trichophyton rubrum, Microsporum spp., Mucor mucedo, Cladosporum spp., Candida albicans and Rhodotorula spp. Before cleaning, the percentage frequency of the fungal isolates revealed that Candida albicans was the most frequently isolated fungal isolate from Akingbola Hostel, Penicillium oxalicum as the most frequently isolated fungi from Hall 7, while Intercontinental Hostel had Penicillium cyclopium as it's most frequently occurring fungi. After washing, Mucor mucedo was revealed as the most predominantly isolated fungal isolate from all the hostels. The ethanolic extract was observed to exhibit the most antifungal potential of Zingiber officinale against Aspergillus fumigatus, and the least potency was by 125mg/ml of Allium sativum against Aspergillus niger. The aqueous extract showed the most potent antifungal activity of Zingiber officinale against Aspergillus tamarii, while its lowest activity was recorded for Allium sativum against Penicillium cyclopium and Aspergillus nidulans respectively. Both medicinal plant extracts exhibited varied antifungal activity and could serve as herbal therapies for fungal contamination and infections.
