Journal of Plant Sciences 2014; 2(1): 31-36 Published online February 20, 2014 (http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/jps) doi: 10.11648/j.jps.20140201.16 Bioantifungal activity of selected medicinal plant extracts against root rot of fungal disease Rozihawati Zahari 1 , Normala Halimoon 1 , Ahmad Said Sajap 2 , Mohd Farid Ahmad 3 , Mohamad Roslan Mohamed 2 1 Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Environmental Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia 2 Department of Forest Management, Faculty of Forestry, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia 3 Department of Biodiversity, Forest of Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Kepong, Selangor, Malaysia Email address: mala_upm@upm.edu.my (N. Halimoon) To cite this article: Rozihawati Zahari, Normala Halimoon, Ahmad Said Sajap, Mohd Farid Ahmad, Mohamad Roslan Mohamed. Bioantifungal Activity of Selected Medicinal Plant Extracts against Root Rot of Fungal Disease. Journal of Plant Sciences. Vol. 2, No. 1, 2014, pp. 31-36. doi: 10.11648/j.jps.20140201.16 Abstract: Root rot disease of fungal such as Ganoderma philippii, Phellinus noxius and Rigidoporus microporus are well known destructive fungus to plant root. The in vitro antifungal screening of selected medicinal plants was studied against the disease. The twelve of Malaysian medicinal plants including the leaves of Aglaia argentea, A. leucophylla, A. grandis, A. odorata, A. odoratissima, A. varrisquama, Alium sativum (bulbs) and Cassia alata, Catharanthus roseus stems and leaves, Derris elliptica leaves and Tinospora baenzigeri stems were extracted using different types of solvents extraction i.e, dichloromethane (DCM), acetone and methanol at the concentration of 20 mg/mL. The extracts were studied for antifungal activities against three species of fungal disease including G. Philippii, P. noxius and R. microporus. The antifungal activities of the extracts were determined by the presence or absence of fungal inhibition zone growth on Potato dextrose agar (PDA). The extracts shows a significant results but varying in their antifungal activities on the selected fungal. The DCM and acetone extracts of C. roseus stems had the highest antifungal activities against R. microporus fungus compared to methanolic extract. On the other hand, acetone extracts of A. argentea leaves also gave the highest antifungal activities against G. philippii compared to other extracts. However, all of the extracts didn’t show any inhibition zone on P. noxius culture. In general, the DCM extracts of C. roseus stems contain the most of bio-antifungal of active compounds against R. microporus of fungal disease. Keywords: Bio-Antifungal Activity, Medicinal Plants, Root Rot, Fungal Disease 1. Introduction Ganoderma philippii, Phellinus noxius and Rigidoporus microporus are the fungal that causes root rot disease commonly attacked to the forest plantation [1,2]. These pathogenic fungi have the most economically damaging disease to the high mortality rates of trees observed during second and third years of rotation cycle [3]. The problem caused by the root rot disease that may affect the growth performance of plants and finally, the plant will die if not control properly. G. philippii of fungi (causes red root disease) is a major of root rot disease that attack Acacia mangium and rubber plantations mostly occur in South-East Asia [4]. Phellinus noxius is not only the host pathogen of the tropical forest species but also diseases of several crops plantation. In Taiwan, the fungal causes a brown root rot disease on tropical fruit plantation such as longan, litchi, carambola, loquat avocado and sugar apple [5]. R. microporus of fungi causes white root disease and well known destructive agent to several crops and fruit trees including rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis) [6,7]. The white and brown root rots disease have causes a significant damages to rubber plantations established on clearance of forest areas in West Africa [8]. Reference [9] reported that these fungal were also affected against the four major plantation tree species including Acacia mangium, Azadiracthta excelsa, Tectona grandis and Hevea brasiliensis in Peninsular Malaysia. Detection of infection at early stages of its attacked is difficult because the trees are rapidly killed by the fungal. Reference [10] stated that the aboveground symptoms of the trees are mostly beyond treatment and recovery, as rapid progress of infection makes the plant death imminent.