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Plants have almost limitless ability to synthesize aromatic
substances, mainly secondary metabolites, of which at least
12,000 have been isolated, a number estimated to be less
than 10% of the total. In many cases, these substances serve
as the molecules of plant defense against predation by microbes,
insects and herbivores. Further, some may involve in plant
odour (terpenoids), pigmentation (tannins and quinines)
and flavor (capsaicin). However, several of these molecules
posses medicinal properties (Cowan, 1999).
Higher incidence of fungal infection caused by various
species of fungi has been reported. Hence, research on bioactive
principal substances that may lead to the discovery of new
compounds is required. There has been a dramatic increase
in the use of antifungal agents for the treatment of both
systemic and local fungal infections. But the expanded use
of antifungal agents has accelerated the development of
resistance to antifungal drugs followed by frequent therapeutic
failures and increasing mortality rate (Jorgenson et al.,
1999).
Cyperus esculentus L. or tiger nutsedge is an annual or
perennial herb growing up to 90 cm long with solitary stems
growing from a tuber. According to ayurveda, the tuber is
cooling, acrid, galactogue to the bowels, aphrodisiac, sharpens
appetite and improves taste; useful in the treatment of
eye troubles, burning sensations and leprosy; disturbs both
heat production and heat regulation in the body (Jean, 1998).
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