Journal of Plant Sciences1816-4951xxxx-xxxxxAcademic Journals Inc.10.3923/jps.2007.209.215Ficus sycomorus L. (Moraceae)]]>HassanS. W.LawalM. MuhammadB. Y.UmarR. A.BilbisL. S.FarukU. Z.EbboA. A.2200722The in vitro antifungal activity and phytochemical properties of column chromatography fractions of Hexane (HX), Petroleum Ether (PE) and Chloroform (CHL) of stem bark of Ficus sycomorus were studied. The bioactive agent in the most potent fraction with antifungal properties was isolated and identified by preparative Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and phytochemical analysis. The hexane fractions (HX2and HX3) were significantly active (p<0.05) at 0.31 to 5.63 mg mL-1 on Microsporum gypseum, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Candida albicans. The fractions revealed the presence of Steroids (STR), Condensed Tannins (CDT), Cardiac Glycosides (CG) and Saponins (SAP). The HX4 fraction was the most potent, exhibiting complete inhibitory activity against all the fungal isolates tested. The fraction contained Anthraquinone Glycosides (ATG) with Retention factor (Rf) value of 0.87. All the PE fractions (PE1, PE2 and PE3) did not exhibit significant activity on the fungal isolates at 0.31 to 3.75 mg mL-1. The CHL fractions (CHL1 and CHL2)showed very high inhibitory activity on only Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichophyton rubrum. The phytochemical analysis of these fractions revealed the presence of CG, SAP, CDT and STR. The results of the present study add credence to the ethnomedicinal uses of Ficus sycomorus for the treatment of fungal diseases.]]>Brain, R. and T.D. Tunner,1975pp: 90-110, 103-108, 114-117pp: 90-110, 103-108, 114-117Cheesbrough, M.,1982Vol. 2,pp: 283-387pp: 283-387Deeni, Y. and H.S.N. Hussain,1991Nauclea latifolia.]]>359196Dominguez, J.M. and J.J. Martin,1998Candida albicans.]]>4222792283El-Olemyl, M.M., F.J. Al-Muhtadi and A.A. Afifi,1994pp: 1-134pp: 1-134Favel, A., M.D. Steinmetz, P. Regli, E.V. Olivier, R. Elias and G. Balandsard,1994In vitro antifungal activity of triterpenoid saponins.]]>605053Fostel, J.M. and P.A. Lartey,200052532Freiburghaus, F., R. Kaminsky, M.H.H. Nkunya and R. Brun,1996in vitro trypanocidal activity.]]>55111Harborne, J.B.,19733rd Edn.,pp: 7-13, 60-89, 131-135, 186-188, 203, 279pp: 7-13, 60-89, 131-135, 186-188, 203, 279Hassan, S.W.,20052005Hassan, S.W., R.A. Umar, M. Lawal, L.S. Bilbis and B.Y. Muhammad,2006Ficus sycomorus L. (Moraceae).]]>31825Keay, R.W.J.,1989Vol. 1-2.pp: 291pp: 291Lartey, P.A. and C.M. Moehle,19971997pp: 151-160pp: 151-160Morris, K.S. and K. Aziz,1976Rhamnus frangular L.]]>39223224Persinos, G.J. and M.W. Quimby,19675615121512Roberts, F.,197814th Edn.,pp: 73-378pp: 73-378Rojas, A., L. Hernandez, R. Pereda-Miranda and R. Mata,199235275283Sandabe, U.K.,2002Ficus sycomorus L. (Moraceae) stem bark in laboratory animals.]]>2002Sandabe, U.K., A.O. Patrick and A.C. Gregory,2003Ficus syconorus L. stem bark in rats.]]>73103110Sandabe, U.K., P.A. Onyeyili and G.A. Chibuzo,2006Ficus sycomorus L. (Moraceae) stem bark on muscular activity in laboratory animals.]]>103481483Scalbert, A.,19913038753883Shale, T.L., W.A. Stirk and J. van Staden,199967347354Springfield, E.P. and F. Weitz,2006Carpobrotus mellei L. base on antimicrobial activity and chemical profiling.]]>512891293Subramanian, S., D.S. Kumar, P. Arulselvan and G.P. Senthilkumar,2006In vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities of ethanolic extract of aloe vera leaf gel.]]>1348355Trease, G.E. and W.C. Evans,197811th Edn.,pp: 530pp: 530Ueki, M. and M. Taniguchi,1997 sp.]]>5010521057Umar, M.A. and B.A. Azare,20063110113Van der Watt, E. and J.C. Pretorius,2001Carpobrotus edulis L.]]>768791Wall, M.E., M.M. Krider, C.F. Krewson, C.R. Eddy, J.J. Wilaman, S. Correll and H.S. Gentry,19543631717Williams, C.N., N.Y. Chew and J.A. Rajaratnan,1980pp: 93pp: 93Zacchino, A.S., N.S. Lopez, D.G. Pezzenati, L.R. Furlan and D.R. Enriz et al.,1999In vitro evaluation of antifungal properties of phenylpropanoids and related compounds acting against dermatophytes.]]>6213531357