DISCOVERY OF NEW ANTI-FUNGAL PHYTOCHEMICAL PDHC (PROPANE-DIYL-BIS-HEXAHYDRO-ISOCHROMENE) ISOLATED FROM ALTERNANTHERA SESSILIS LEAVES

This study reports the potential of Alternanthera sessilis leaves as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic agent and also the characterization of a novel phytochemical from A. sessilis using bio-activity guided extraction. Antimicrobial property was studied against five bacterial pathogens, Escherichia coli (MTCC: 1687), Bacillus cereus (MTCC: 0430), Klebsiella pneumonia (MTCC: 7028), Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC: 3160), Proteus mirabilis (MTCC: 3310) and against two fungal pathogens, Aspergillus niger [MTCC 281] and Aspergillus flavus [MTCC 10938]. Petroleum ether extract of A. sessilis leaves demonstrated significant antimicrobial property and hence was further purified to identify its active phytochemicals. Silica-gel Column Chromatography followed by antimicrobial screening, lead to the identification of the active fraction, that was characterized by spectroscopic analyses. FT-IR, GC-MS and NMR (C¹³, and DEPT-45; 90; 135) analysis of the active fraction, characterized the phytochemical to be 3,3’-(propane-2, 2-diyl)-bis-(3,4,5,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-isochromene) abbreviated as PDHC. To the best of knowledge, this is the first report of PDHC due to novelty in its chemical structure. In-silico molecular docking was performed for this identified compound to identify the possible mechanism of action. This study opens up opportunities for further research on this valuable anti-fungal phytochemical leading to possible treatment applications.