Hexane Extract from Tradescantia pallida (Rose) D.R. Hunt (Commelinaceae): Its Volatile Constituents and in vitro Antifungal and Cytotoxic Activities

HIGHLIGHTS

• Tradescantia pallida has shown promising antibacterial, antioxidant and anticancer activities.

• Botanical extract products are environmentally friendly, inexpensive and may reduce losses by discouraging pathogen growth.

• HE-TP was highly active in in vitro assays against P. digitatum, S. sclerotiorum and R. stolonifer.

• HE-TP demonstrated cytotoxic activity against different human tumor cell lines.

• The major compound identified in hexane extract from T. pallida was (E)-4-methoxycynnamic acid (50.2%).

Abstract:

Tradescantia pallida (Commelinaceae) has shown promising antibacterial, antioxidant and anticancer activities. This study aimed at extracting hexane from T. pallida (HE-TP) aerial parts to identify and quantify its volatile compounds by GC-MS and GC-FID and at evaluating its antifungal and antiproliferative activities. (E)-4-Methoxycynnamic acid (50.2%), 2,5-di-tert-butyl-1,4-benzoquinone (13.7%) and epijuvabione (10.4%) were the major components identified in HE-TP. HE-TP was incorporated into PDA medium, poured into Petri dishes and transferred to mycelial discs of pathogens. Percentages of inhibition of fungal growth were determined. HE-TP showed remarkable antifungal potential at the dose of 400 µL since it inhibited 100% of Penicillium digitatum and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum growth and 92.6% of Rhizopus stolonifer growth. Besides, HE-TP demonstrated cytotoxic activity against different human tumor cell lines with IC₅₀ values between 231.43 and 428.76 µg/mL. Therefore, results showed that HE-TP has potential against fungi of agronomic interest and tumor cells.

Keywords:
Penicillium digitatum; Sclerotinia sclerotiorum; Rhizopus stolonifer; (E)-4-Methoxycynnamic acid; alternative control; cytotoxic activity