Antifungal potential and phytochemistry of Tetrapterys multiglandulosa CAV aerial parts

Abstract

Tetrapterys spp. are considered toxic to grazing animals owing to the presence of a poisonous constituent cardiotonic glycoside. However, other chemicals within the plant have allelopathic, bactericidal, and fungicidal activities. The objective of this study was to search for natural products as alternatives in the control of plant pathogenic fungi, which diminish the crop productivity and cause damage to animal and human health. The phytochemical content of the stems and leaves was investigated alongside the fungitoxic potential of aqueous and ethanol extracts from aerial parts of T. multiglandulosa on Fusarium moniliforme and F. graminearum. The leaves and stems were obtained from 20 arrays of T. multiglandulosa from Batayporã City, south of Mato Grosso do Sul, and classified as young and mature. The botanical material was oven dried, crushed, and its aqueous and 20% ethanol extracts were used for qualitative and quantitative phytochemical assays. For in vitro tests of fungal growth inhibition, extract concentrations of 200, 400, 800, 1600, and 2000 μg L^-1 were assayed, with two control groups. Phytochemical tests from aqueous and ethanol extracts of young and mature leaves indicated the presence of phenolic compounds, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, and cardiotonic glycosides. The aqueous extract of young leaves showed potential fungicidal activity against F. graminearum, with values ranging from 21.25% to 33.53% colony growth inhibition.