Abstract
The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of leaf extracts of four plants against some isolated fungal species from deteriorated books. Aqueous, methanol and chloroform extracts of selected plant species were screened in vitro for their antifungal activity against some book deteriorating fungal species. Fifteen species belonging to 09 genera were isolated and identified from infested books in library. Aqueous and solvent extracts of leaves of Azadiracta indica, Callistemon citrinus, Eucalyptus lanceolatus and Pongamia pinnata were tested against some dominant fungal species viz. Chaetomium spiralis, Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus and Rhizopus stolonifer. Solvent extracts exhibited potent inhibitory activity than aqueous extracts. However, these plant extracts exhibited moderate activity against A. flavus, C. spiralis, R. stolonifer and A. alternata.
Acknowledgements
Author wishes to express her sincere gratitude to Head of the Department of Botany, Hislop College, affiliated to R.T.M. Nagpur University, Nagpur for providing laboratory facilities and Supervisor, Dr L.P. Dalal, Department of Botany, J.B. College of Science, affiliated to R.T.M. Nagpur University, Wardha, for guiding her throughout the current research work.