Evaluation of antifungal activity of lichen extracts against phytopathogenic fungi macrophomina phaseolina (tassi) goid

Lichens were screened to know their antifungal potentials against phytopathogenic fungi Macrophomina phaseolina. Lichen samples like Heterodermia leucomela, Pseudocyphelaria aurata, Flavoparmelia caperata, Parmotrema tinctorum and Parmotrema austrosinensis were collected from Mysore and Madikeri districts and identified using available standard keys. The extracts of these lichen were obtained with 3 different solvents Methanol, Ethyl acetate and acetone. The antifungal assay was carried out by Agar well diffusion method, Minimum inhibitory concentration and Bioautography technique. The ethyl acetate fraction of all the samples was found to be more effective against the tested fungi. Ethyl acetate extract of Flavoparmelia caperata showed maximum inhibition of 18.6±0.5 mm and the least was 10.3±0.5 mm zone of inhibition. The MIC with the lowest concentration of 0.390 mg/ml was in the ethyl acetate extract of Flavoparmelia caperata. The TLC bioautographic method showed zone of inhibition in 3 sample extracts. The acetone fraction did not show any results. These lichen extracts tested demonstrated antimicrobial effect which suggests a possibility of their use in the treatment of various diseases caused by these and similar microorganisms