Hexane Extract from Tradescantia pallida (Rose) D.R. Hunt (Commelinaceae): Its Volatile Constituents and in vitro Antifungal and Cytotoxic Activities

Tradescantia pallida (Commelinaceae) has shown promising antibacterial, antioxidant and anticancer activities. This study aimed at extracting hexane from T. pallida (HE-TP) aerial parts to identify and quantify its volatile compounds by GC-MS and GC-FID and at evaluating its antifungal and antiproliferative activities. (E)-4-Methoxycynnamic acid (50.2%), 2,5-di-tert-butyl-1,4-benzoquinone (13.7%) and epijuvabione (10.4%) were the major components identified in HE-TP. HE-TP was incorporated into PDA HIGHLIGHTS • Tradescantia pallida has shown promising antibacterial, antioxidant and anticancer activities. • Botanical extract products are environmentally friendly, inexpensive and may reduce losses by discouraging pathogen growth. • HE-TP was highly active in in vitro assays against P. digitatum, S. sclerotiorum and R. stolonifer. • HE-TP demonstrated cytotoxic activity against different human tumor cell lines. • The major compound identified in hexane extract from T. pallida was (E)-4-methoxycynnamic acid (50.2%). Cabral, F.V.; et al. 2 Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology. Vol.65: e22210621, 2022 www.scielo.br/babt medium, poured into Petri dishes and transferred to mycelial discs of pathogens. Percentages of inhibition of fungal growth were determined. HE-TP showed remarkable antifungal potential at the dose of 400 μL since it inhibited 100% of Penicillium digitatum and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum growth and 92.6% of Rhizopus stolonifer growth. Besides, HE-TP demonstrated cytotoxic activity against different human tumor cell lines with IC50 values between 231.43 and 428.76 μg/mL. Therefore, results showed that HE-TP has potential against fungi of agronomic interest and tumor cells.