Effects of Garden Balsam (Impatiens balsamina L.) Extracts on Fungal Infection of Rice

Abstract

Garden balsam (Impatiens balsamina L.) is widely used as an ornamental plant in landscaping. Different parts of this plant are used traditionally to treat skin diseases. The objective of this study is to determine the effects of ethanol crude extract of garden balsam on rice disease and its total phenolic and flavonoid content. There are many rice diseases in Thailand caused by fungi; i.e dirty panicle disease (Curvularia lunata), brown spot disease (Bipolaris oryzae) and rice blast disease (Pyricularia oryzae). Screening of the antifungal activity of brown spot disease (Bipolaris oryzae) and dirty panicle disease (Curvularia lunata) with extracts from six parts of this plant was conducted by a disk diffusion test. The most active extract was from the pericarps of garden balsam, which inhibited Curvularia lunata. The inhibition diameter was 46 mm. The pericarp extract concentration was 11.3 ??g/??l which showed the total phenolic compound 13.9 ?? 0.5 (mg GAE/g cw), while the flavonoid content of pericarp was 33.4 ?? 0.9 (??g QE/mg cw), the extract concentration was 11.3 ??g/??l.