PHYTOCHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF PENCIL TREE (EUPHORBIA TIRUCALLI L.) AS ANTIFUNGAL AGENT AGAINST MANGO ANTHRACNOSE DISEASE

The current study aimed to examine the Euphorbia tirucalli L. (pencil tree) in vitro antifungal activity against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Penz. All the tested extract concentrations (1-3%) showed a significant decrease in the test fungus growth. However, 3% conc. exhibited the highest reduction in C. gloeosporioides biomass at 77%. Methanolic extract of E. tirucalli was examined through phytochemical analysis and determining flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids, tannins and alkaloids. The antioxidant activity of E. tirucalli was also tested using radical scavenging assay (DPPH), and 81% activity was observed at 200 mu L conc. of methanol extract. Further solvent partitioning bioassay was employed to check the efficacy of the various isolated fractions viz. ethyl acetate, chloroform, n-hexane and n-butanol of the test plant against C. gloeosporioides. The bioassay results depicted that 0.5% and 1% concentration of the chloroform fraction of E. tirucalli caused the highest decline in the growth of C. gloeosporioides, i.e. 90% and 95%. This most effective extract was examined via GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). The major constituents identified were 9, 12-octadecadienoic acid (Z, Z)-, n-hexadecanoic acid, dodecanoic acid, tetradecanoic acid and phytol. Results suggest that active compounds detected by GC-MS analysis of E. tirucalli might be responsible for its antifungal potential.

Automated summary

The study found that the extract of Euphorbia tirucalli had a significant inhibitory effect on Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, with the chloroform fraction at a 1% concentration showing the best inhibitory effect. GC-MS analysis identified key compounds in the extract that may be responsible for its antifungal potential.