Abstract

Aqueous and methanol extracts of Parrotia persica leaves were assayed for antifungal activity against phytopathogenic Fusarium oxysporum and human pathogenic Candida albicans by poisoned food technique. Both the aqueous and methanol extracts demonstrated significant antifungal activity. Further fractionation of methanol extract guided by antifungal activity resulted in the isolation of an active principle and it is identified as phenolic compound. The structure of the active principle was elucidated by mass spectroscopy, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. These results revealed that the compound is 6-(ethoxymethyl)-tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2, 3, 4, 5-tetraol compound with 1- isopropyl-4-methoxybenzene, the compound was found responsible for antifungal activity against both F. oxysporum and C. albicans.

Key words: Parrotia persica, phenolic compound, antifungal activity.