Varsha N. Rawade and Ashok R. Tuwar
Abstract
This study aimed to identify antifungal bioactive compounds present in the ethanolic leaf extract of Vitex negundo using Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) (Panneerselvam et al., 2016; Altemimi et al., 2017). GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of diverse secondary metabolites, including alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, glycosides, and terpenoids (Altemimi et al., 2017). Six major compounds decane, squalene, eicosane, a benzenepropanoic acid derivative, phytol, and hexadecanoic acid ester- were identified (Panneerselvam et al., 2016). Previous studies indicate that these compounds possess antifungal activity by affecting fungal membrane integrity, inhibiting spore development, disrupting metabolic functions, and providing antioxidant protection (Bakkali et al., 2008; Pandey et al., 2021). The presence of these bioactive constituents supports the antifungal efficacy and traditional medicinal use of Vitex negundo and highlights its potential as an eco-friendly source for sustainable disease management strategies (Sharma et al., 2019).