Antifungal Activities of Sida acuta Burm. f. Leaf Extracts on the Fruit Rot Pathogen of Annona muricata L.

This study investigated the antifungal activities of Sida acuta Burm. f. leaf extracts against fruit rot fungi of Annona muricata (sour sop) and the phytochemical constituent of the plant. Fruits of sour sop (A. muricata) and leaves of Sida acuta used for the study were collected from different locations within Abraka community, Delta State. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening and Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry analysis were carried out on the extract. Fungi causing rot of A. muricata was isolated and antifungal activities of S. acuta on isolated fungi was carried out using the poisoned food method. The result showed that both methanol and chloroform extracts of the plant contained flavonoid, tannin, saponin, steroid, glycoside, alkaloid, anthraquinone, terpenoid, and reducing sugar. The GC-MS result revealed the presence of 20 compounds with 3-Trifluoromethylbenzylamine, N,N-diundecyl and L-Proline, N-(2-trif¬luoromethylbenzoyl)-, isohexyl ester as the most abundant in both methanolic and chloroform extracts. The study identified Rhizopus stolonifer as the fungi associated with the rot of A. muricata and showed that as the concentration of the extract increased, its antimicrobial activity was significantly higher in the organ¬isms. The phytochemical composition and antifungal effects make S. acuta leaf extract a potential agent for use against fungal infections in the future.