Vegetos
(An International Journal of Plant Research & Biotechnology)
(eISSN: 2229-4473)
Analysis of phenolic compounds in the methanol extract of Salvia candidissima subsp. candidissima by LC-HESI-MS/MS and evaluation of its antioxidant and antifungal properties
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Research Articles | Published: 08 April, 2026
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Keywords: Antioxidant activity, Antifungal activity, Phytochemical composition, n Salvia candidissima subsp. candidissiman
Abstract
This study evaluated the methanolic extract of Salvia candidissima subsp. candidissima (Salvia candidissima) for its phenolic composition, total phenolics content and total flavonoid content (TPC and TFC), antioxidant capacity, and antifungal potential. UHPLC-LC–MS/MS screening identified 11 phenolic compounds (out of 29 analyzed), with luteolin-7-glucoside (1578.279 µg/g extract), rosmarinic acid (388.674 µg/g), apigenin (118.250 µg/g), and luteolin (41.267 µg/g) being the most abundant. The extract contained 61.38 ± 0.97 mg GAE/g extract of TPC and 40.57 ± 1.03 mg QE/g extract of TFC. In the DPPH assay, the extract exhibited strong free radical scavenging with an IC50 of 91.79 ± 1.12 µg/mL, while FRAP indicated substantial reducing power at 88.41 ± 1.17 mg TE/g extract. Antifungal activity was tested against several phytopathogens, including Phytophthora infestans (FF), Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (SS), Rhizoctonia solani (RS), Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis (FOM), Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (FON), Verticillium dahliae (VD), and Monilinia fructigena (MF). At 8 mg/mL, growth inhibition varied: FF 75.26%, FON 56.65%, RS 52.26%, MF 49.16%, VD 47.28%, FOM 27.16%. The antifungal effects were linked to the presence of phenolics and flavonoids such as luteolin-7-glucoside, rosmarinic acid, and apigenin, which are known for antifungal activity. Overall, the methanolic extract of S. candidissima emerges as a promising candidate for developing plant-derived natural antifungal agents.
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Author Information
Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Kırşehir Ahi Evran University, Kirsehir, Turkey