Phytochemical Analysis and Antifungal Activity of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Trema guineensis (Ulmaceae), A Plant from the Ivoirian Pharmacopoeia

Trema guineensis is a woody plant distributed in tropical forest of which leaf and bark extracts are traditionally used for the treatment of various diseases including fever, bronchitis, and gastrointestinal disorders. Previous studies have highlighted their antibacterial activity. So, present work was designed to examine the phytochemical and antifungal properties of aqueous crude extract of T. guineensis leaves. The bioactive components extracted from leaves were tested against pathogenic fungi using the agar tube dilution method. Antifungal activity of aqueous leaves extracts was carried out against selected pathogenic fungal strains as Aspergillus fumigatus, Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans. The phytochemical analysis of the aqueous crude extract revealed the presence of secondary metabolites widely reported as antifungal such as flavonoids, saponins, quinones, alkaloids, polyphenols. The results showed that the aqueous crude leaves extract of T. guineensis was effective in inhibiting the fungal growth and were active against A. fumigatus, C. neoformans and C. albicans with MIC and MFC ranged from 20 to 200 mg/mL and 100 to 400 mg/mL, respectively. The efficient antifungal activity of T. guineensis from the present investigation revealed that aqueous leaf crude extract of the selected plant had a moderate potential to inhibit the growth of pathogenic fungal strains. This finding showed that the aqueous extract of T. guineensis exerted an antifungal effect on C. albicans, A. fumigatus and C. neoformans and supports its traditional use in herbal medicine.