Solvent-dependent chemical profiling and antimicrobial activity of N-hexane and dichloromethane extracts derived from hydrodistilled essential oil of Physalis angulata l. fruits [Articol]

Abstract

GC–MS analysis revealed that 59 compounds (96.3%) were identified in the n-hexane extract of hydrodistilled essential oil from the fruits of Physalis angulata L., with a predominance of fatty acids and their derivatives, including n-hexadecanoic acid (21.13%) and conjugated linoleic acid (9.46%). The dichloromethane extract contained 34 compounds (80.15%), mainly oxygenated volatile constituents such as 1-hexanol (24.03%), furfural (6.04%), and 3-hexen-1-ol (5.10%), along with fatty acids. Solvent polarity was shown to play a decisive role in extraction selectivity, with n-hexane preferentially extracting lipid components, whereas dichloromethane promoted the extraction of oxygenated volatile compounds. Antimicrobial evaluation demonstrated that the dichloromethane extract exhibited the highest activity against Bacillus subtilis (19 ± 0.12 mm), with lower activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans, whereas the n-hexane extract showed weaker effects. The observed bioactivity can be attributed to the solvent-dependent chemical composition of the extracts, especially the combined effects of fatty acids, alcohols, and aldehydes, potentially mediated by membrane disruption and synergistic interactions. These findings indicate that solvent-dependent fractionation is a key factor in determining the chemical and biological profiles of P. angulata.