In the first part of experiment, antifungal activity of water and methanol extracts were studied against pathogenic fungi viz., Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, and Cryptococcus leuteolus. Among the solvents used, both methanol and water extracts were found to be more effective against Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus leuteolus. Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans does not inhibit by any type of extract. The second part of experiment performed on fish. In this first set of experiment was treated as control. In the second set of experiment fishes were exposed to 0.15gm/l-1 concentration of a Parthenium flower extract in aquatic medium for 30 days with a regular interval of 7 days. Due to this histological damage has been observed in gonads which affect the fish production. In the third set of experiment, (0.15gm/l-1) concentrations of water extract of Butea monosperma gum were run simultaneously with the same concentration of a Parthenium flower extract (0.15gm/l-1) in aquatic medium for 30 days with a regular interval of 7 days. In mixed treatment Butea monosperma gum extract significantly reduce the histological damage observed due to Parthenium flower extract and help for healthy reproduction. In the fourth set of experiment fish were exposed to (0.15gm/l-1) concentrations of water extract of Butea monosperma gum only and we observe that better histological changes as compared to first set of experiment i.e. Control. Results suggested that under present experimental conditions Butea monosperma extracts acts as an antifungal agents and exhibit strong reproductive activity in above fish model, which could further contribute to study its benefit in humans.
