Effect of Capsicum annuum L. and Capsicum frutescens L. Varieties Extracts on in vitro Growth of Fungal Strains

This study aims to test different extracts (water, 70% ethanolic-water and acetal) of Capsicum sp. on the growth of Alternaria sp., Penicillium sp., Fusarium sp. and Aspergillus flavus. The nature of the antifungal activity, the antifungal parameters (MIC, MFC, IC50) and the percentage of survival of the strains were determined with the dilution method. On Alternaria sp., Penicillium sp. and Fusarium sp. strains, values of MFC/MIC ratios of water and 70% ethanol extracts of Capsicum annuum antillais were equal to two. Concerning Capsicum frutescens (soudanais, attie, doux and oiseau) varieties, these values varied from 1 to 2 on the fungal strains. These ratios for most of the strains were lower than 4. These extracts exerted a fungistatic action on chosen strains. The curves obtained had a declining appearance with more or less steep slopes depending on the extracts. These curved were used to obtain the inhibitory concentrations for 50% survival (IC50) of the moulds. The highest activity was achieved at the lowest IC50 values which varied from 0.2 mg/mL to 0.3 mg/mL. Therefore, Capsicum extracts proved to be active on in vitro growth of the fungal strains studied in a dose-dependent manner.