Bioprospecting of Species: Chemical Profile, Phytochemical Properties, and Antifungal Efficacy against .

Variation in plant species and extraction solvents play a crucial role in the recovery of their bioactive compounds and antifungal efficacy. Thus, in this study, a comparative investigation was carried out using extraction solvents: 70% acetone and 95% ethanol to obtain crude aqueous extracts from and . Crude aqueous extracts were screened using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), to gain insight into their chemical composition. Phytochemical properties (total polyphenols (TP) and radical scavenging capacity via 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)), and antifungal activity against of the crude extracts were evaluated. Fungicide (Rovral WP) and extraction solvents were used as controls. Variation in spp. and extraction solvent had influence on the chemical composition, phytochemicals, and antifungal activities. Metabolites such as γ-terpinene (≈0.1%), α-amorphene (≈0.6%) α-gurjunene (≈1.4%), β-selinene (2.2-3.2%), γ-gurjunene (≈3.3%), and methyl cinnamate (≈20%) were detected only in extracts of . Crude extract of using 70% acetone had the highest TP (19.3 ± 0.76 g GA 100 g), and DPPH capacity (13,251.5 ± 700.55 µmol Trolox g) compared to ( ≤ 0.05). Ethanolic extracts of showed highest antifungal efficacy (≈65%) against ( ≤ 0.05) compared to other crude extracts. This study showed that spp. differ in their potential as a source for bioactive compounds and antifungal treatments/formulations.