Phytochemical, Free Radical Scavenging and Antifungal Profile of Cuscuta campestris Yunck. Seeds

Abstract

This work was conceptualized with the goal to investigate the phytochemical, free radical scavenging and antifungal profile of Cuscuta campestrisYunck. seeds. Total phenolics, amino acid and carbohydrate contents were evaluated in ethanolic, acetone and chloroform extract. Effective antioxidant activity was evaluated throughout seven antioxidant methods. The antifungal activity was assessed against eight fungal strains and Candida albicans. The results showed total phenol, flavonoid, flavonols and phenolic acids contents in amount of 1.51-6.35mg GAE/mL, 78-425g RU/mL, 1.04-2.98mg QU/g and 12.01-30.58g CAE/mL, respectively. The total amino acids and carbohydrates content ranged from 8.29 to 185.45g Gly/mL and from 0.05 to 0.12g Glu/mL. The ethanolic extract showed the best antioxidant activity in phosphomolybdenum, DPPH free radical scavenging, ferric reducing power and lipid peroxidation assays. The best activity in ferrous ion chelating and H2O2 assays had the acetone extract, whereas the best hydroxyl radical scavenging activity was observed with the chloroform extract. The ethanolic extract at a concentration of 6mg/mL proved to be the most effective antimycotic, since it inhibited the growth of all tested fungi except Penicillium verrucosum. The obtained results indicate that C.campestris seeds could be attributed to a potential source of natural antioxidants in food and pharmaceutical products.