Phytochemical composition, antioxidant and antifungal activities of jaubertia aucheri guill

The objective of this study was to evaluate phytochemical constituents, antioxidant and antifungal activities of methanolic extract and various fractions. Jaubertia aucheri is traditionally used to treat skin infections, abortion, constipation and gum bleeding. The plant was extracted in methanol and phytochemical analysis was carried by different reported methods. Antioxidant activity was evaluated through 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging method. Antifungal activity of various fractions and methanolic extract were examined by using the subsequent fungi form strains, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, and Aspergillus paraciticus. The qualitative phytochemical analysis of the plant showed that tannins, alkaloids, quinines and coumarin were present in all fractions of the plant. The quantitative study showed that methanolic extract contained maximum phenolic content (34.3 +- 0.61) %, n-butanol fraction showed the highest content of alkaloids (23.1 +- 0.66) %, the higher quantity of flavonoids (12.4 +- 0.46) % and also the highest quantity of saponin (27.0 +- 0.56) % was present in ethyl acetate fraction. The ethyl acetate fraction showed the lowest IC50 (16.42 +- 0.55) %, thus having good potential to serve as a source of natural antioxidant. The n-butanol fraction showed the highest antifungal activity against Aspergillus paraciticus while n-hexane fraction against Aspergillus niger. The plant extract and various fractions can be used against infections cause by fungi and as an antioxidant. The plant should be investigated in detail for isolation of bioactive natural products. (author)