Effect Of Plant Extracts On Fungal Growth

ABSTRACT

Most fungi are saprophytic and not pathogenic to plants, animals and humans. However, a relative few fungal species are phytopathogenic, cause disease (e.g., infections, allergies) in man, and produce toxins that affect plants, animals and humans. Among such fungi are members of the Aspergillus and Fusarium genera as well as other genera (e.g., Alternaria, Mucor) comprising the emerging pathogen group in humans. These fungi present a common threat to both agricultural production and the health of healthy and immunocompromised individuals. Taken together, these relative few fungi can cause huge economic losses to agriculture, loss of food for consumption, and serious, often fatal diseases in humans and animals. Plants may be a source of antifungal compounds since they have had to develop compounds to resist infections by fungi present in their environment.

Fungus obtains its energy from dead organisms. Terms such as yeast, mold, mildew, fungus, sooty mold and rust describe various forms and species of fungus. There are over 100,000 known species of fungus and still other species remain unknown to the science. They show both sexual and asexual reproduction. In sexual reproduction they share DNA while in asexual reproduction they form buds or spores which only multiply when they are subjected to favorable conditions.

Fungal spores can be found anywhere in the atmosphere as they can move from one place to another due to air or wind pressure. Damp environments promote fungal growth. Fungus can enter through various means. It can be present in the food we eat. They can also be present on our body. They might be present in the air we breathe. They can also ruin our food and later on cause food shortage problems and many other problems.

Because of these reasons it is necessary to find an easy yet an effective way to overcome the growth of the fungus. There are many preservatives which are used but if they are consumed at higher rates they become dangerous for human life and other animals. So this research aims at finding an easy but an effective way to stop the growth of fungus by using natural extracts.

As these natural extracts are available at each and every house and are very cheap to buy and offer no threats to human life. These extracts along with the resistance offered to the growth of fungus also prove healthy to the human body. These extracts can be prepared very easily at home and can be used to inhibit the fungal growth. This research offers a comparison between the use of various natural extracts on the growth of fungus.

INTRODUCTION

Almost half known species of fungus have negative impact on human health and can cause many diseases. As they are mostly present in the form of spores looking for the favorable conditions for their growth, they are present in the air. So they can be inhaled by humans and humans can develop fungal infections.

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If the fungal spores land on skin they will cause the skin to develop infections which may also result in bleeding. But mostly as they are in the air, the site of infection will be lung. It is not easy to kill a fungus present inside the body as they can cause serious health complications.

Fungi present in meat or poultry goods will also cause serious allergic reactions in the humans. And the fungus finds a way inside the human body through consumption of these goods.

Fungus requires warm yet damp conditions for their growth. But they can also grow inside the refrigerator. They can tolerate salt and sugar coatings. Due to this, it is possible that many bacteria will also start growing along with the fungus.

Due to these reasons, a lot of food is wasted throughout the year. Crops grown which are subjected to fungal attack are also wasted and the food grown cannot be used to feed public as it poses serious threats to public health.

Because of the above mentioned reasons, special measures should be taken to inhibit the growth of fungus but at cheaper and easier ways. The use of natural extracts is an easy yet an effective and cheaper way to inhibit the growth of fungus on our food and in our body. As these extracts are healthy for human body, they will inhibit the growth of fungus as well as prove beneficial for our health.

RESEARCH PROBLEM

• How can be plant extracts used to stop the fungal growth?
• How fungus is dangerous for us?
• How many plant extracts are useful against inhibiting the fungal growth?

RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

• Onion is comparatively more effective than the garlic extract regarding the prevention and control of fungal growth.
• The entire plant extracts act as an effective measure against the fungal growth.
• Plant extracts can be used as an effective measure in order to prevent and control the fungal growth.

SIGNIFICANCE

• This research will enable every person to secure themselves from the harmful effects of fungus.
• This research will prove beneficial for human’s health.
• As it is cheap and an effective way to inhibit fungal growth, common man can make use of it.
• It will form bases for more research work to be carried out regarding the growth of fungus.
• It is an easy way which will not only provide us immunity against fungal infections but will also provide us many other benefits.
• When added in food, these extracts can enhance the taste of the food we eat.

The growth of fungus has ruined and contaminated a lot of crops and goods. Many food items are thrown away on daily basis. Many skin and lung diseases are being diagnosed every day. Many places insides the buildings and houses are subjected to fungal growth due to various reasons but the origin of causes of fungal growth still remains unknown.

Due to these reasons, it is necessary to follow a scheme of some points which will help us overcome the diseases and other problems caused by fungus or fungal growth. Following are the recommendations achieved from the performed experiments.

• One of the effective ways to inhibit the growth of fungus is the use of natural extracts.
• Natural extracts have been proved to show resistance towards the growth of fungus.
• Natural extracts should be applied for the prevention of fungal growth.
• Edible items should not be stored for long times.
• Fungus is more likely to grow on items that are frequently exposed to moisture and stored in a warm place.
• Natural extracts should be used in suitable quantity in food. In this way food will remain safe from fungal growth.
• All these natural extracts are beneficial for the prevention of fungal diseases on humans.
• Some extracts should be applied on food directly to avoid fungal growth on them externally.

REFERENCES

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fungus
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mold_health_issues
3. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268326965_Antifungal_effect_of_powdered_spices_and_their_extracts_on_growth_and_activity_of_some_fungi_in_relation_to_damping-off_disease_control
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3814582/
5. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279924216_ANTI-FUNGAL_PROPERTIES_OF_GINGER_ZINGIBER_OFFICINALE_AND_GARLIC_ALLIUM_SATIVUM_ON_SMOKED_CAT_FISH_MYCOFLORA
6. https://www.turmericforhealth.com/turmeric-benefits/turmeric-for-fungal-infections
7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22497489
8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4016684/
9. https://sciencing.com/different-kinds-bread-mold-5956459.html
10. https://owlcation.com/stem/types_of_fungi