Journal of Paramedical Sciences (JPS) Autumn 2014 Vol.5, No.4 ISSN 2008-4978 32 Antifungal potential of mangrove extracts against Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium italicum Behrooz Alizadeh Behbahani 1 , Farideh Tabatabaei Yazdi 1,* , Fatemeh Riazi 2 , Fakhri Shahidi 1 , Hamid Noorbakhsh 1 , Forouzan Tabatabaei Yazdi 3 1 Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran 2 Department of Food Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran 3 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran * Corresponding Author: Email address: Tabatabai@um.ac.ir (F. Tabatabaei Yazdi) ABSTRACT The interest in plants antimicrobial properties has been revived because of the current problems associated with the use of antibiotics. Nowadays, the fact that microorganisms tend to develop drug resistance, besides the side effects of certain antibiotics has offered considerable potentials for the development of new effective antifungal and antioxidant agents; medicinal plants are prolific sources. Avicennia marina, commonly known as grey mangrove, is a species of mangrove tree classified in the plant family Acanthaceae. The aim of this experimental study is determination of antifungal effect of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Avicennia marina on Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium italicum ”in vitro”. In this study, quantitative bioassay was done using disc diffusion method, Minimum Inhibition Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) was carried out using broth dilution methods. The results showed that the ethanol extract of Avicennia marina leaves with “antimicrobial activity method” in 2000 μg/ml, were inhibited the growth of Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium italicum. In “disk agar diffusion test” the mentioned extract were shown inhibiti on effect on pathogenic molds growth (p<0.05). The result showed that MIC of ethanolic extract of Avicenna marina leaves for Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium italicum was 16 and 8 mg/ml respectively. The results showed that MFC of ethanolic extract of Avicenna marina for Aspergillus flavus was 32 mg/ml, and for Penicillium italicum was 16 mg/ml. Ethanolic extract compared to the aqueous extract was more effective and has a greater inhibition effect. This study showed that the extract of Avicennia marina had antifungal effects that justify their traditional use as medicinal plants. Finally, the data suggested that Avicennia marina extracts could have notable antifungal effects. Keywords: Antifungal potential; Avicennia marina; Aspergillus flavus; Penicillium italicum. INTRODUCTION Human fungal infections pose serious medical issues. Up to now, more than a hundred thousand fungal species are considered as natural contaminants. During the last decade, the incidence of superficial and deep mycotic infections has continued to increase explosively. There is a general consensus among researchers, clinicians and pharmaceutical companies that new, potent, effective and safe antifungal drugs are needed [1]. The increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance is a major health concern, worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Commission (EC) have recognized the importance of studies on the emergence and determinants of antimicrobial resistance and the need for strategies to control drug resistance [2]. Avicennia marina, commonly known as grey mangrove or white mangrove, is a species of mangrove tree classified in the plant family Acanthaceae (formerly in the Verbenaceae or Avicenniaceae) [3]. As with other mangroves, it occurs in the intertidal zones of estuarine areas. Grey mangroves grow as a shrub or tree to a height of three to ten meters, or up to 14 meters in tropical regions [4].The habit is a gnarled arrangement of multiple branches. It has smooth light-grey bark made up of thin, stiff, brittle flakes. This may be whitish, a characteristic described in the common name. The leaves are thick, five to eight centimeter long, a bright, glossy green on the upper