Studies on antimycotic properties of Datura metel.

The hexane, chloroform, acetone and methanolic fractions of Datura metel L. were investigated for antifungal properties using pathogenic species of Aspergillus. The chloroform fraction was found to be endowed with antifungal activity. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of chloroform fraction of D. metel L. was 625.0 microg ml(-1) against all the three species of Aspergillus, i.e. A. fumigatus, A. flavus and A. niger, by microbroth dilution and percent spore germination inhibition assays. The MIC by disc diffusion assay was observed to be 12.5 microg disc(-1). The chloroform fraction of D. metel, when investigated for potency, turned to be 9.2 times less active than amphotericin B. However, it was important to note that the cytotoxicity of chloroform fraction in vitro was 117.8 times less than amphotericin B.