Abstract
In recent years, natural products with antifungal and antioxidant activities are being increasingly researched for a more sustainable alternative to the chemicals currently used for the same purpose. The plant pathogenic fungus Alternaria alternata is a causative agent of diseases in citrus, leading to huge economic losses. Antioxidants are important for the production of medicines for various diseases that may be related to the presence of free radicals, such as cancer, and in the cosmetic industry as an anti-aging agent and the food industry as preservatives. This study evaluated the antifungal and antioxidant potential of extracts of mature leaves of Myrcia splendens, a tree species that occurs in the Brazilian Cerrado. The antioxidant potential was analyzed by an assay of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging method, and the antifungal activity was assessed through the evaluation of mycelial growth. Majority of the extracts exhibited a strong antioxidant activity, especially the acetonic extract (4A). The antioxidant activity may be related to the presence of phenolic compounds. However, the extracts showed no inhibitory activity of mycelial growth of the fungus tested, with the exception of dichloromethanic extract (2B), which had an inhibitory effect (10.2%) at the end of testing.
Highlights
Secondary metabolites have been used by human beings since ancient times in their isolated form as extracts or even as fresh or dried plants such as tinctures, flavorings, fragrances, stimulants, hallucinogens, insecticides, poisons, and therapeutic agents (Wink, 2010)
This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant and antifungal potential of extracts of mature leaves of M. splendens, from two types of extraction, against the phytopathogen A. alternata
The antioxidant activity can be of two types, for example, primary when the compounds bind to free radicals and secondary if the compounds have chelating capacity of transition metals and synergism can occur when both modes are present (Fennema, 2000)
Summary
Secondary metabolites have been used by human beings since ancient times in their isolated form as extracts or even as fresh or dried plants such as tinctures, flavorings, fragrances, stimulants, hallucinogens, insecticides, poisons, and therapeutic agents (Wink, 2010). Most of these metabolites play important roles in plant protection against pathogens (viruses, bacteria, and fungi), competing. They may have physiological functions such as protection against ultraviolet radiation and as nitrogen storage compounds (Jansen et al, 2008; Wink, 2010). Some compounds from plant secondary metabolism may exhibit antioxidant activity. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are often generated as by-products of
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