Masevhe, N. A.Sigidi, M. T.Rasalanavho, Rivhashandu Confidence2026-06-172026-06-172026-05-19Rasalanavho, R.C. 2026. Characterisation and Screening of secondary metabolites from Commiphora viminea (Burtt Davy, Burseraceae) Engl. for antifungal properties against Candida auris. . .https://univendspace.univen.ac.za/handle/11602/3192M.Sc. in BotanyDepartment of Biological SciencesMedicinal plants are widely recognised as valuable sources of therapeutic agents as a result of their abundance of bioactive compounds with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties. Commiphora viminea, belonging to the Burseraceae family, has been traditionally utilised for its medicinal and aromatic qualities; however, its phytochemical profile and biological activities remain poorly characterised. This study investigated the phytochemical composition, antioxidant capacity, antifungal potential, and cytotoxicity of C. viminea leaf, stem, and root extracts using solvents of varying polarity (water, acetone, and ethyl acetate), supported by LC–MS analysis for metabolite identification. The aim was to provide scientific validation for the traditional use of this species and its suitability for natural product research. Qualitative phytochemical screening revealed the presence of diverse classes of secondary metabolites, including alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, phenols, terpenoids, glycosides and saponins, with variation in abundance across different solvent extracts. Water extracts showed stronger positive reactions for alkaloids and flavonoids, indicating high solubility of polar compounds, while acetone and ethyl acetate extracts exhibited moderate to high detection of phenolics and terpenoids. LC–MS profiling further confirmed the presence of several bioactive constituents, including quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucuronide, kenusanone E, provincilin, gingeronone, and amorphigenol compounds, which have been previously reported in Commiphora species and are known for their antioxidant, antifungal, and cytotoxic effects. The combined results from qualitative phytochemical screening and LC–MS analysis suggested that C. viminea possesses a complex chemical profile rich in pharmacologically relevant metabolites. The antioxidant potential, evaluated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, demonstrated that all plant parts exhibited varying degrees of free radical scavenging capacity. The root and leaf water extracts exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, attributed to the presence of polar phenolics and flavonoids with high hydrogen-donating ability. The acetone and ethyl acetate extracts showed moderate antioxidant effects, indicating that less polar compounds also contributed to free radical scavenging. The strong antioxidant activity of C. viminea supports its potential role in reducing oxidative stress, which is closely associated with fungal infections, cancer progression, and other degenerative diseases. Antifungal evaluation was performed using a 96-well plate assay filled with 100 μL of Sabouraud Dextrose broth, followed by the addition of 100 of freshly prepared yeast inoculum. Subsequently, 100 μL of crude extracts at a concentration of 5mg/mL was added to each well in the first row and diluted serially across the plate against Candida auris, Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida parapsilosis, and Candida tropicalis multidrug-resistant fungal pathogens. The results revealed moderate inhibitory activity, particularly in the acetone and ethyl acetate extracts of the stem and root. These results suggest that semi-polar metabolites such as flavonoids, tannins, and terpenoids may contribute to the antifungal activity by disrupting fungal cell membrane integrity and inhibiting essential enzymes. The water extracts exhibited weaker antifungal effects, likely due to the poor membrane permeability of highly polar compounds. The findings align with reports that Commiphora species possess compounds with antimicrobial and antifungal properties, underscoring their pharmacological importance. Cytotoxicity assays based on the reduction of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT), a water-soluble yellow tetrazolium salt, seeded in a 96-well plate using Vero and Caco-2 cells demonstrated the therapeutic potential of C. viminea. Water extracts across all plant parts were relatively non-toxic to normal Vero cells, indicating good biocompatibility. In contrast, ethyl acetate extracts displayed strong cytotoxicity against Caco-2 cells, even surpassing the activity of the standard drug melphalan at certain concentrations. This selective toxicity suggests the presence of potent antiproliferative compounds, possibly lignans, terpenoids, or flavonoid derivatives, which inhibit cancer cell growth while sparing normal cells. The acetone extracts exhibited intermediate cytotoxic effects, reflecting the influence of solvent polarity on the extraction of bioactive constituents. Collectively, the findings of this study indicated that C. viminea contained a diverse spectrum of phytochemicals responsible for its antioxidant, antifungal, and cytotoxic activities. The results highlighted the crucial role of solvent polarity in modulating extract composition and biological performance. The observed selective cytotoxicity, along with strong antioxidant capacity, positions C. viminea as a promising candidate for further pharmacological and biochemical investigations aimed at developing plant-based therapeutic agents. Future research should focus on the fractionation and characterisation of compounds using advanced chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques. Mechanistic studies are needed to understand the molecular pathways through which these compounds exert antioxidant, antifungal, and anticancer effects. Moreover, in vivo evaluations are essential to confirm efficacy and safety, while optimisation of extraction processes may improve the yield and potency of active constituents.1 online resource (xiv, 168 leaves): color illustrationsenUniversity of VendaAntifungalUCTDAntioxidantCandida aurisCommiphora VimineaCytotoxicityLS-MSDissertationRasalanavho RC. Characterisation and Screening of secondary metabolites from Commiphora viminea (Burtt Davy, Burseraceae) Engl. for antifungal properties against Candida auris. []. , 2026 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from:Rasalanavho, R. C. (2026). <i>Characterisation and Screening of secondary metabolites from Commiphora viminea (Burtt Davy, Burseraceae) Engl. for antifungal properties against Candida auris</i>. (). . Retrieved fromRasalanavho, Rivhashandu Confidence. <i>"Characterisation and Screening of secondary metabolites from Commiphora viminea (Burtt Davy, Burseraceae) Engl. for antifungal properties against Candida auris."</i> ., , 2026.TY - Dissertation AU - Rasalanavho, Rivhashandu Confidence AB - Medicinal plants are widely recognised as valuable sources of therapeutic agents as a result of their abundance of bioactive compounds with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties. Commiphora viminea, belonging to the Burseraceae family, has been traditionally utilised for its medicinal and aromatic qualities; however, its phytochemical profile and biological activities remain poorly characterised. This study investigated the phytochemical composition, antioxidant capacity, antifungal potential, and cytotoxicity of C. viminea leaf, stem, and root extracts using solvents of varying polarity (water, acetone, and ethyl acetate), supported by LC–MS analysis for metabolite identification. The aim was to provide scientific validation for the traditional use of this species and its suitability for natural product research. Qualitative phytochemical screening revealed the presence of diverse classes of secondary metabolites, including alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, phenols, terpenoids, glycosides and saponins, with variation in abundance across different solvent extracts. Water extracts showed stronger positive reactions for alkaloids and flavonoids, indicating high solubility of polar compounds, while acetone and ethyl acetate extracts exhibited moderate to high detection of phenolics and terpenoids. LC–MS profiling further confirmed the presence of several bioactive constituents, including quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucuronide, kenusanone E, provincilin, gingeronone, and amorphigenol compounds, which have been previously reported in Commiphora species and are known for their antioxidant, antifungal, and cytotoxic effects. The combined results from qualitative phytochemical screening and LC–MS analysis suggested that C. viminea possesses a complex chemical profile rich in pharmacologically relevant metabolites. The antioxidant potential, evaluated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, demonstrated that all plant parts exhibited varying degrees of free radical scavenging capacity. The root and leaf water extracts exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, attributed to the presence of polar phenolics and flavonoids with high hydrogen-donating ability. The acetone and ethyl acetate extracts showed moderate antioxidant effects, indicating that less polar compounds also contributed to free radical scavenging. The strong antioxidant activity of C. viminea supports its potential role in reducing oxidative stress, which is closely associated with fungal infections, cancer progression, and other degenerative diseases. Antifungal evaluation was performed using a 96-well plate assay filled with 100 μL of Sabouraud Dextrose broth, followed by the addition of 100 of freshly prepared yeast inoculum. Subsequently, 100 μL of crude extracts at a concentration of 5mg/mL was added to each well in the first row and diluted serially across the plate against Candida auris, Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida parapsilosis, and Candida tropicalis multidrug-resistant fungal pathogens. The results revealed moderate inhibitory activity, particularly in the acetone and ethyl acetate extracts of the stem and root. These results suggest that semi-polar metabolites such as flavonoids, tannins, and terpenoids may contribute to the antifungal activity by disrupting fungal cell membrane integrity and inhibiting essential enzymes. The water extracts exhibited weaker antifungal effects, likely due to the poor membrane permeability of highly polar compounds. The findings align with reports that Commiphora species possess compounds with antimicrobial and antifungal properties, underscoring their pharmacological importance. Cytotoxicity assays based on the reduction of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT), a water-soluble yellow tetrazolium salt, seeded in a 96-well plate using Vero and Caco-2 cells demonstrated the therapeutic potential of C. viminea. Water extracts across all plant parts were relatively non-toxic to normal Vero cells, indicating good biocompatibility. In contrast, ethyl acetate extracts displayed strong cytotoxicity against Caco-2 cells, even surpassing the activity of the standard drug melphalan at certain concentrations. This selective toxicity suggests the presence of potent antiproliferative compounds, possibly lignans, terpenoids, or flavonoid derivatives, which inhibit cancer cell growth while sparing normal cells. The acetone extracts exhibited intermediate cytotoxic effects, reflecting the influence of solvent polarity on the extraction of bioactive constituents. Collectively, the findings of this study indicated that C. viminea contained a diverse spectrum of phytochemicals responsible for its antioxidant, antifungal, and cytotoxic activities. The results highlighted the crucial role of solvent polarity in modulating extract composition and biological performance. The observed selective cytotoxicity, along with strong antioxidant capacity, positions C. viminea as a promising candidate for further pharmacological and biochemical investigations aimed at developing plant-based therapeutic agents. Future research should focus on the fractionation and characterisation of compounds using advanced chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques. Mechanistic studies are needed to understand the molecular pathways through which these compounds exert antioxidant, antifungal, and anticancer effects. Moreover, in vivo evaluations are essential to confirm efficacy and safety, while optimisation of extraction processes may improve the yield and potency of active constituents. DA - 2026-05-19 DB - ResearchSpace DP - Univen KW - Antifungal KW - Antioxidant KW - Candida auris KW - Commiphora Viminea KW - Cytotoxicity KW - LS-MS LK - https://univendspace.univen.ac.za PY - 2026 T1 - Characterisation and Screening of secondary metabolites from Commiphora viminea (Burtt Davy, Burseraceae) Engl. for antifungal properties against Candida auris TI - Characterisation and Screening of secondary metabolites from Commiphora viminea (Burtt Davy, Burseraceae) Engl. for antifungal properties against Candida auris UR - ER -