Antifungal Potential of Yellow Bur Head Limnocharis flava (Buchenau, 1868) Against Pathogenic Oomycete, Lagenidium thermophilum

Abstract

Fungal infection by marine oomycetes is the main problem that hinders crustaceanproduction. Therefore, a study to find an alternative fungal treatment that is safer thanchemical treatment is currently needed. One of the potential sources of antifungalproperties is macrophytes. Limnocharis flava, known as yellow bur head, was foundto have antimicrobial properties. Thus, this research was conducted to determinethe potential of L. flava extract as an antifungal agent against the marine oomycetes Lagenidium thermophilum IPMB 1801. In this study, ethanol and methanol solvents were used to extract L. flava. The results showed that the methanol extraction yield of L. flavais higher (7.03 g, 35.16%) compared to ethanol extract (3.26 g, 16.26%). The antifungal screening test was conducted using the disc diffusion method. Ethanol and methanol extract of L. flava had antifungal activities against the hyphal growth of L. thermophilum.Continuation from the screening test, the minimum inhibitory concentration for both ethanol and methanol extracts was determined to be at 100 mg/ml respectively. These findings suggest that L. flava has the potential to become an antifungal treatment forthe control of fungal infections in the crustacean industry.