Rajeev Rattan, Amita Kumari, Veena Gautam, Bharat Inder Fozdar, Upendra Sharma and Dinesh Kumar
The aim of present study was to evaluate antioxidant and antifungal potentials of Lepidagathis cuspidata. Ethanol extract (80%) of Lepidagathis cuspidata roots and its fractions (CCL4 and ethyl acetate) were prepared and preliminary screened for the presence of different chemical constituents. Total polyphenolic and flavonoids contents of the plant were also measured. DPPH assay was used for the evaluation of antioxidant potential whereas the antifungal activity was performed with disc diffusion method on the plant pathogen. The IC50 value was measured in μg/ml, and zone of inhibition was expressed in millimetres. Lepidagathis cuspidata extract showed the presence of steroids, tannins, phenolics, saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, carbohydrates and amino acids. Total phenolic and total flavonoid contents in the extract were found to be 8.14 ± 0.005 and 11.3 ± 0.002 mg/g, respectively. In DPPH assay, the IC50 value of ethanol extract and fractions (CCL4 and ethyl acetate) prepared from this extract was found to be 91.01 μg/ml 4788 μg/ml and 928 μg/ml, respectively. While standard drug (Trolox) showed 11.89 μg/ml IC50 value. Moreover, ethanol extract showed significant antifungal activity against all tested fungal strains in comparison to Mancozeb (standard drug). Ethyl acetate fraction also showed moderate antifungal activity against all tested strains while CCL4 showed least potential only against Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus fumigates. This study showed that Lepidagathis cuspidata may be used for controlling plant pathogen due to its antifungal potential.