Evaluation of the Antioxidant and Antifungal Actions of the Optimized Crude Extract and Fractions from the Aerial Parts of Acanthospermum hispidum

This study investigated the phytochemical characteristics of the aerial parts of Acanthospermum hispidum, by chromatographic and spectrophotometric methods, and evaluated the antioxidant and antifungal activities of the crude extract and polyphenol‐enriched fractions of the species. The phytochemical prospection showed the presence of polyphenols from the groups of hydroxycinnamic derivatives and flavonoids in the crude extract (CE) and fractions of the aerial parts of A. hispidum. In the chromatographic analysis, it was possible to observe that the fractionation process of the CE with hexane and ethyl acetate was efficient in enriching the fractions in phenolic compounds. This enrichment provided an increase in antioxidant activity by the DPPH and ABTS methods, in which it was observed a higher antioxidant activity for EAF in the DPPH test and higher activity against the ABTS radical by the fractions AqF and RAqF. The extract and fractions were effective against Candida non‐Candida albicans strains, mainly against C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis and C. krusei, acting predominantly fungicidal. The results indicate that the aerial parts of A. hispidum can serve as a basis for the development of new antioxidant and antifungal products. Moreover, the fractionation process can contribute to increasing the biological potential of the species.