Phytochemical Screening and Antifungal Activity of Quercus infectoria

The objective of the present work is to study the antifungal activity of gall extracts of Quercus infectoria (Q. infectoria) (Family: Fagaceae). The plant commonly known as gall oak, is a small shrub found in Greece, Asia Minor and Iran. The gall of Quercus infectoria macroscopically, is globose with horny appearances on the external surface (1-1.5 cm in diameter) giving a rough touch, greyish-brown to brownish-black in colour externally with an unpleasant odour. The galls of Quercus infectoria have been pharmacologically documented to possess astringent, antidiabetic, antitremorine, local anaesthetic, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory activities. The powder of Quercus infectoria gall was subjected to extraction with Chloroform, Ethanol, Acetone, Ethyl acetate and Water using soxhlet extractor. The extracts after the preliminary phytochemical investigation had shown the presence of Carbohydrates and Tannins. The antifungal activity was performed by agar cup plate method against two fungi, Penicillium species and Aspergillus species. The zone of inhibition was compared with standard antifungal drug clotrimazole.