Abstract:
The objective of this study was to investigate the antifungal activity of kebar grass (Biophytum petersianum Klotzsch) extract (KGE) on the mycelial growth, conidiation and morphological structure of two types of aflatoxigenic fungus, which are Aspergillus flavus BCCF 0219 and A. flavus BIO 2236. They were isolated in the three types of model media, namely carbohydrate-enriched medium, fat-enriched medium and protein-enriched medium with five concentrations of KGE (12, 14, 16, 18, and 20 mg/mL) on each media. The best extract concentration of that inhibits the growth of A. flavus BCCF 0219 was found in the carbohydrate-enriched medium (95.7%), which was 12 mg/mL, whereas at A. flavus BIO 2236 was found in the fat-enriched medium (100%), which was 16 mg/mL. Based on SEM observation results, it was found that the mechanisms involved in fungal growth inhibitory by the KGE were by morphological alterations of the hyphal development, and the collapse of the entire hyphae. These findings indicated that KGE as a potential natural antifungal agent, particularly against aflatoxigenic fungi.
