HPLC Phenolic Compounds Analysis and Antifungal Activity of extract's from Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf against Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium oxysporum sp tulipae

Aims: To analyze phenolic compounds and evaluate antifungal activity of methanolic and ethanolic extract's from Cymbopogon citratus against Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium oxysporum sp tulipae.

Study Design: Activity directed antifungal activity, total phenolic compounds determination, total antioxidant determination and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) phenolic compounds analysis of extract's from Cymbopogon citratus using in vitro methods.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Environment and plant protection, and Laboratory of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine (USAMV) between March to July 2014, Laboratory of Biochemistry and Microbiology (Bioactives Natural Substances Unit), Jean Lorougnon Guédé University between September 2014 to January 2015.

Methodology: Growth inhibitory effect of ethanolic and methanolic extracts of Cymbopogon citratus were tested in vitro by applying agar slant double dilution method, analyze the profile of phenolic compounds in the two extracts by HPLC and to measure antioxidant activity of the tested extracts through 2, 2’ diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging method.

Results: Methanolic and ethanolic extracts of Cymbopogon citratus inhibited the in vitro growth of Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium oxysporum sp tulipae, but the activity of methanolic extract was better. This study revealed the presence of phenolic compounds such as gentisic acid, chlorogenic acid, sinapic acid, protocatechuic acid, caffeic acid, rutin, p-couramic acid, kaempferol and quercetin in the tested extracts. Methanolic extract which was more concentrated in total phenolic, exhibited higher antioxidant activity than ethanolic extract.

Conclusion: Cymbopogon citratus is a powerful antioxidant. This plant is not only a natural antifungal but also a potential source of antioxidant and nutraceuticals. Further work in this direction can allow to isolate a novel natural bioactive compound against Fusarium contamination.