Current Pharma Research Vol. 1, Issue 1, October-December 2010 Antifungal Activity of Isolated Compound from the Leaves of Passiflora Edulis Sims S.kannan* 1 , B.Parimala devi 2 , B.Jayakar 3 * 1 Department of Pharmacognosy, Smt.Sarojini Ramulamma College of Pharmacy, Sheshadrinagar, Andhrapradesh, INDIA. 2 Department of Pharmacy, School of Chemical & Biotechnology, SASTRA University, Thanjavur – 613 402, Tamilnadu, INDIA. 3 Department of Pharmacognosy, Vinayaka Missions College of Pharmacy, Kondappanaickenpatty, Salem Tamilnadu, INDIA. Abstract In the present study pure compound was isolated from the leaves of Passiflora edulis for finding potential antifungal activity. Which were compared with the total methanolic leaf extract and the standard Nystatin 100 units /disc. The invitro antifungal efficacy of the pure isolated compound was tested against Fungi viz., Candida albicans (NCL 3102) and Aspergillus niger (NCL 105) by disc diffusion method. The isolated pure compound showed significant activity against Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. Key words Passiflora edulis, Nystatin, Isolated pure compound, Antifungal, Methanolic extract. Introduction Medicinal plants represent a rich source of antifungal agents 1 . Many of the plant materials used in traditional medicine are readily available in rural areas at relatively cheaper than modern medicine 2 . The effects of plant extracts on microorganisms have been studied by a very large number of researchers in different parts of the world 3,4 . Much work has been done on ethno medicinal plants in India 5,6 . Interest in a large number of traditional natural products has increased 7 . Fungi are significant destroyers of foodstuffs and grains during storage, rendering them unfit for human consumption by retarding their nutritive value and often by producing mycotoxins 8,9 Fungal infections remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality despite advances in medicine and the emergence of new antifungal agents 10 . Candida albicans, the agent of candidiasis, is an increasingly important disease that has a worldwide distribution due to the fact that it is a frequent opportunistic pathogen in patients 11 . *Corresponding Author: s_kannan18@yahoo.com Passiflora edulis Sims (passion fruit, purple granadilla) is wild species belonging to the family Passifloraceae. The plant is a shallow-rooted, woody, perennial, tendril climbers. The alternate, evergreen leaves, deeply 3-lobed when mature, are finely toothed, 3 to 8 in (7.5-20 cm) long, deep-green and glossy above, paler and dull beneath, and, like the young stems and tendrils, tinged with red or purple, especially in the yellow form. A single, fragrant flower, 2 to 3 in (5-7.5 cm) wide, is borne at each node on the new growth 12 . Passiflora edulis reported to possess cytotoxic, antioxidant activity, 13 anti-inflammatory activity, 14 comparative biological activity, 15 neuro pharmacological activity, 16 healing of colonic anastomosis in rats, 17 healing process of gastric suture 18 and antihypertensive 19 and it is safe herbal drug which contains the constituents like a new glycoside passiflorin, ionone-I, ionone-II, megastigma-5,8-dien-4-1, megastigma-5,8(Z)-diene- 4-1, 4,4a-Epoxy-4, 4a-dihydroedulan, 3- hydroxyedulan, Edulan-I, Edulan-II, passifloric acid methyl ester. 20 The leaves are simple, 3 lobed, ovate, palmate, pinnate, length is 4 to 8 inches and colour is green.