Morphological, phytochemical and antifungal analysis of Aloe vera L. leaf extracts

This study was undertaken with the aim of analysing some morphological parameters, screening of important phytochemical compounds and the activity of Aloe vera leaf extracts against two fungal species viz; Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus. Morphological assessment of A. vera plant showed significant differences in leaf and root attributes including its color, length and weight under both dried and fresh form. Pendulous and yellow to whitish color flowers were found. Phytochemical analysis of glycosides, steroids, flavonoids, reducing sugar, phenolic compounds, terpenoids, carbohydrates, amino acid, tannins and saponin gave positive consequences and negative for cyanogenic glycosides in both the methanol and ethanol leaf extracts. Alkaloids were found only in the methanol extract but not in that of ethanol extract. Glycosides, reducing sugar, phenolic compounds, steroids, terpenoids, carbohydrates, flavonoids, saponins and tannins were present in the aqueous extract. Both methanolic and ethanolic extracts of A. vera showed significantly greater inhibitory effect whereas aqueous extracts were found with lesser inhibitory effect against Rhizopus and A. niger. This investigation strongly suggests A. vera plant leaf extracts with ethanol and methanol as better antifungal candidates.