Antimicrobial Potential and GC-MS Fragmentation Patterns of Secondary Metabolites of Endophytic Fungal Extract from Maize Leaf

Multidrug-resistant organisms pose a significant threat to global health, as their multiplication contributes to the persistence of infectious diseases. Zea mays contains high levels of secondary metabolites with significant antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant effects. In this study, the leaves of Zea mays were screened for their fungal secondary metabolites in a malt-glucose liquid culture media containing 3%(w/v) malt extract and 6%(w/v) glucose. The resulting extract was analysed using TLC and GC-MS. Tyrosol acetate, N-Acetyl tyramine, Diisooctyl phthalate, and 3,5-Di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde were identified as the major compounds present in the extract. The extract was evaluated for antimicrobial and antioxidant properties against five pathogenic microorganisms: Enterococcus faecalis (NCTC 13379), Streptococcus pyogenes (NCTC 12696), Klebsiella pneumoniae (NCTC 13348), Staphylococcus aureus (NCTC 12973), and Candida albicans (ATCC 90028). The extract demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity, with the broadest zone of inhibition (30 mm) recorded against S. aureus. This is the first report on the antimicrobial potential of endophytic fungal extract from Zea mays leaf