Microscopic and Analytical Insights Into the Morphoanatomical, Pharmacognosy and Bioactivity of Healthy and Geminivirus-Infected Duranta erecta L.: A New Report

Abstract

Duranta eracta L. is grown widely as a medicinal and ornamental plant. Duranta erecta is badly infected by begomovirus. Phytochemical changes impact plant morphoantomical, defense and antioxidant potential, shaping plant responses. A complete comprehensive study including morphoanatomical, phytochemical, antioxidant, molecular and antimicrobial evaluation is done to differentiate the healthy plant from infected. Morphological analysis indicated that geminivirus infected plants exhibits symptoms like cupping, curling, folding, yellowing, crumpling, reduced leaf area and overall stunted growth. The presence of geminiviruses (Brgomoviruses) was confirmed using the PCR method, with the help of universal primers designed for begomoviruses. By using specific begomoviruses primers, presence of Duranta Leaf Curl virus (DLCV) was confirmed along DNA-B of Tomato leaf curl New Delhi Virus (ToLCNDV) and Catharanthus yellow mosaic virus (CaYMV) in highly severe infected samples. While Papaya leaf curl virus (PaLCV) and CaYMV were also found in severely infected samples, however efforts to isolate satellites was not successful in these samples. Anatomical analysis of infected and healthy plants revealed that in both the plants anisocytic stomata and warty trichomes were present with few variations occurred in the size of trichomes, subsidiary, guard and epidermal cells. Antioxidant potential analyzed by DPPH scavenging method indicated that methanol extracts showed maximum antioxidant potential followed by ethanol, chloroform and n-hexane, respectively. The antibacterial activity assessed against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumonia indicated that healthy samples demonstrated notable activity (10 mm) against S. aureus, while infected samples displayed no antibacterial effect. For antifungal testing against Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus solani and Rhizopus stolonifer, neither the healthy nor the infected samples showed any activity. Phytochemicals’ quantitative and qualitative testing of both plant samples was done. Presence of different secondary metabolites, such as phenols flavonoids, glycosides, sterols, tannins, triterpenes, coumarins and saponins were confirmed qualitatively. The quantitative phytochemical analysis revealed the maximum flavonoids concentration in chloroform, preceded by ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts. Duranta erecta plays a significant role for the production of many drugs because of the presence of secondary metabolites which were assessed by GCMS. The one of major secondary metabolite, that is, acteoside was also eluted in GCMS scans of selected plants. This is the first integrated study dealing with the morphoanatomical, phytochemical, antioxidant, molecular and antimicrobial comparison of DLCV infected and healthy D. erecta. The findings provide valuable insights for breeding virus-resistant cultivars and highlight the species' potential as a source of pharmacologically active compounds for drug development.