Phytochemical Evaluation Of Eleusine Coracana Extract For Its Anti-Microbial Activity

Abstract

Eleusine coracana (finger millet) is an underutilized cereal crop with potential medicinal properties. This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition and antifungal activity of extracts obtained from the seeds of E. coracana using ethanol and aqueous extraction methods. The plant materials were extracted with 100% ethanol and boiling water to obtain crude ethanol and aqueous extracts, respectively. Qualitative phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, and phenolic compounds, with the ethanol extracts containing a more diverse range of phytochemicals. The antifungal activity was evaluated against Candida albicans and Cryptococcouses using agar well diffusion and broth microdilution assays. The ethanol seed extract exhibited the highest antifungal activity, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 0.5 mg/ml against C. albicans and Cryptococcouses, respectively. The observed antifungal activity was attributed to the presence of phenolic compounds and flavonoids, which were more effectively extracted by ethanol compared to the aqueous extraction. These findings highlight the potential of E. coracana as a natural source of antifungal agents and warrant further investigation into the isolation and characterization of the bioactive compounds responsible for the observed activity.