Plant-derived antifungal compounds and their effects on fungal growth: A review of medicinal plants of Maharashtra, India

Abstract

The prevalence of fungal infections is rapidly on the increase and there are now many fungi that are resistant to standard antifungal medications. The global health problem of this emerging antimicrobial resistance doubles the dangers associated with these infections. Currently available antifungal medications also have side effects and decreased efficacy. There is a safer option which is natural and sustaining with medicinal plants. Maharashtra, India boasts of rich biodiversity, including plenty of plants that are utilized in traditional medicine for the purpose of Ayurveda. But an understanding of this plant-based wisdom has yet to be completed and does not correlate with contemporary drug discovery. In this review work, PRISMA framework has been adopted to research about medicinal plants derived antifungal compounds of Maharashtra. The selection of databases were databases such as Scopus, Pubmed and Web of Science with set key words. Appropriate data on the plant’s species, phytochemicals and the fungal targets were selected and sorted out. The results revealed that the plants such as Azadirachta indica, Ocimum sanctum, Tinospora cordifolia and Terminalia chebula exhibited good antipsychotic activity. Alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins, and essential oils are the major bioactive constituents found. The compounds primarily act on the membranes of fungi and the growth of fungi such as Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger and Fusarium species. Low MIC values have been reported by many studies indicating that this possesses excellent antifungal activity.