Jasminum angustifolium is endemic to Sri Lanka and it was reported that the roots and leaves are of medicinal value. Roots are bitter, acrid and are useful for external application in ring worm and herpes and are recommended for ophthalmopathy, ulcerative stomatitis and wounds. The juice of the leaves is given as an emetic in cases of poisoning. Present study was carried out to evaluate the in vitro antifungal activity of sequentially extracted different solvent extracts of leaves of Jasminum angustifolium against plant pathogenic fungi such as Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., Trichoderma spp., Fusarium spp. and Alternaria spp. by the standard agar well diffusion method. Synthetic fungicide Dithane M-45 (Mancozeb) and solvents used for extraction as standard and controls respectively. Qualitative phytochemical analysis of crude extracts was also carried out for the presence of bioactive compounds using standard procedures. Results revealed that the J. angustifolium leaf extracts had antifungal activity against all tested fungi at least in one solvent. The standard mancozeb and the methanol leaf extract exhibited antifungal activity against all tested fungi where as controls did not inhibit the growth of fungi. But hexane and ethylacetate leaf extracts failed to inhibit the growth of Alternaria spp. and Trichoderma spp. respectively. Effect of ethylacetate leaf extract against Penicillium spp.(22,17 mm) and Fusarium spp.(20,15 mm) was significant than compared to the standard mancozeb after 48,72 hours of incubation period. Growth inhibition on Trichoderma spp.(18 mm) and Alternaria spp.(14 mm) was significant by methanol leaf extract than compared to the standard after 24 hours of incubation. Fusarium spp.(18 mm) growth was significantly inhibited by hexane leaf extract than the standard after 72 hours of incubation period. Methanol leaf extract had a significant effect on fungal growth when compared with the other two leaf extracts. Phytochemical analysis indicated that various types of phytochemicals were in sequentially extracted hexane, ethylacetate and methanol extracts. Saponins, phlobatanins, terpenoids and alkaloids were present in all three extracts but flavanoids were only absent all extracts. This study revealed that the leaf of J. angustifolium had an antifungal activity against some plant pathogenic fungi and the presence of various types of phytochemical compounds.
