Antioxidant evaluation and bio-guided isolation from methanol leaf extract of Acalypha godseffiana

Abstract

Acalypha godesffiana is a plant used in conventional medicine for fungal-related illnesses. The plant‘s extracts were investigated in this study, antioxidant, and antimicrobial studies were conducted. Different models were employed in the antioxidant assay; serial dilution was utilized to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The extract from A. godseffiana was purified and characterized by chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques, respectively. Three biologically active compounds, 3, 5-dihdroxylbenzoic acid (1), 3, 4, 5-trihydroxybenzoic acid (2), as well as Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (3), were identified for the first time in A. godseffiana. The extract and fractions exhibited varying scavenging capacities on different anti-oxidative models. The DPPH of MeOH (IC50= 0.51 mg mL^-1) was comparable with silymarine (SLY) IC50= 0.52 mg mL^-1 and better than gallic acid (GAL) IC50=1.95 mg mL^-1; the ABTS.+ of EtOAc column fraction (ACF, IC50=0.46 mg mL^-1) was comparable with standard SLY, IC50 = 0.47 mg mL^-1; and an OH radical of DCM, IC50= 0.10 mg mL^-1, was better than both standards (SLY, IC50= 6.30 mg mL^-1, GAL: IC50= 1.93 mg mL^-1). ACF showed superior antifungal activities (0.02 mg mL^-1) against Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans, compared to ketoconazole (MIC of 0.250 mg mL^-1). Compounds (1-3) from A. godseffina reportedly displayed antioxidant and other activities. This study validated the antifungal potentials of A. godseffiana leaves and identified bioactive compounds. The extracts should be further investigated, and the compounds should be added to the existing library for further investigation of possible leads.