Biochemical profiling of antifungal activity of betel leaf(Piper betle L.) extract and its significance in traditional medicine

Abstract

Piper betle (Linn) commonly called as betel leaf is a widely cultivated plant in the Indian subcontinent. The traditional Indian ayurvedic document describes several of its medicinal properties including as an effective antifungal agent. The present study was conducted to evaluate the secondary metabolite that contributes to its antifungal activity. Invitro studies were performed on molds and yeasts on antifungal using fractions obtained from ethyl acetate, hexane and ethanol-methanol extracts by well-diffusion technique. Ethyl acetate extracts showed highest anti-fungal activity. Using biophysical techniques such as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy techniques; we identified the molecule as derivative of the phenyl propanoid family akin eugenol. The molecule can be readily purified using a 2 step solvent extraction procedure along with silica column chromatography. These findings reveal the antifungal and possible commercial potential of the plant extract and its potential in agriculture against pest management and food spoilage