ASSESSEMENT OF PHYTOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF LAWSONIA INERMIS (HENNA) AGAINST SOME SELECTED FUNGI

Lawsonia inermis, also known as the henna tree, the mignonette tree, and the Egyptian privet, is used to treat many human illnesses, including ulcers, cough, bronchitis, leukoderma, scabies, boils, ophthalmic disorders, hair loss, and jaundice. It is a common herbal treatment. This study aimed to assess the phytochemical properties and antifungal activity of L. inermis extracts against some selected fungi. Following the extraction of the plant using methanol, ethanol, and aqueous solutions as solvents, the percentage yield was calculated by dividing the weight of the extract by the weight of the plant and then multiplying by 100. The phytochemical constituents in the plant extracts were also analyzed according to the standard procedure. The agar well diffusion technique was used to determine the antifungal activity of L. inermis extracts. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using the tube dilution technique, and the tubes with positive MIC results were subcultured on freshly prepared potato dextrose agar (PDA) to determine the minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC). The results revealed that methanol extracts had the highest percentage yield at 23.18%. Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of saponins, terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, triterpenes, and phenolic compounds. The antifungal activity of L. inermis showed that ethanol extracts had the highest activity, with a 22 mm zone at 200 mg/mL against Aspergillus flavus and Candida albicans, while the aqueous extracts showed the highest activity against Aspergillus niger with an 18 mm zone at 200 mg/mL. The MIC of the plant extracts ranged from 25 mg/mL to >100 mg/mL, while the MFC ranged from 50 mg/mL to >100 mg/mL. Overall, L. inermis extract contained a significant number of phytochemical constituents and exhibited antifungal activity against all tested fungi at different extract concentrations.