Thesis (BS Biology) -- University of the Philippines Mindanao, 2002

The antifungal property of Jatropha curcas was investigated of four fungal cultures. These were Candida lipolytica and three fungi isolated from dog hair plucked from the periphery of a skin lesion. Four parameters were measured, namely, colony diameter, mycelial dry weight, zone of inhibition, and viable count (colony forming units per milliliters). The last two were performed only on C. lipolytica while the second test did not include this organism. Results showed that the colony diameters of C. lipolytica and FI-1 were significantly decreased by the leaf decoction. The growth of the second fungal isolate designated FI-2 was not altered by any of the three decoctions. However, the colony diameter of the third fungal isolate designated FI-3 was significantly bigger in Potato Dextrose Agar with root decoction than the control. This suggests the presence of a growth-promoting substance for FI-3 in the root. The absence of the significant reduction in mycelial dry weight of the isolates could be due to the low concentration or denaturation by boiling of antifungal components in the decoction. The extraction and isolation of the active compounds with antifungal property are recommended for further study. The susceptibility of genera of fungi especially pathogenic strains should be tested on the isolated compounds