MEDICINAL SIGNIFICANCE AND ANTIFUNGAL POTENTIAL OF BLUMEA LACERA: AN ETHNOBOTANICAL APPROACH

Abstract

Herbal medicines are widely used in both developed and developing countries for primary healthcare due to their diverse biological activities, high safety profile, and cost-effectiveness. Medicinal plants have traditionally been employed in the treatment of burns, dermatophytic infections, and various infectious diseases. The increasing emergence of resistant pathogens has intensified the search for novel antimicrobial agents from natural sources.

Blumea lacera (L.) DC., a member of the family Compositae (Asteraceae), is a common annual rabi weed in India characterized by its distinctive turpentine-like odor. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the antifungal potential of Blumea lacera against selected fungal pathogens. Plant extracts were prepared using different solvents, namely methanol, acetone, and water, at various concentrations. Antifungal activity was assessed against Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Alternaria sp., Penicillium sp., and Fusarium sp. using the paper disc diffusion method.

The results revealed that most of the extracts exhibited significant antifungal activity against the tested fungi. The efficacy of the extracts was compared with the standard fungicide carbendazim. Several extracts demonstrated antifungal effects comparable to or greater than those of the reference fungicide, indicating the potential of Blumea lacera as a promising source of natural antifungal compounds.