Phytochemical Screening, Free Radical Scavenging and <i>α</i>-Amylase Inhibitory Activities of Selected Medicinal Plants from Western Nepal
<b>Background:</b> More than 700 plants are reported to be used for medicinal purposes in Nepal; however, many of them are not studied for their scientific evidences. The aims of the present study were the estimation of the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and the evaluation of the...
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MDPI AG
2019-06-01
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| Series: | Medicines |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6320/6/2/70 |
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| author | Kusum Sai Rashmi Thapa Hari Prasad Devkota Khem Raj Joshi |
| author_facet | Kusum Sai Rashmi Thapa Hari Prasad Devkota Khem Raj Joshi |
| author_sort | Kusum Sai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Background:</b> More than 700 plants are reported to be used for medicinal purposes in Nepal; however, many of them are not studied for their scientific evidences. The aims of the present study were the estimation of the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and the evaluation of the free radical scavenging and α-amylase inhibitory activities of five selected medicinal plants from western Nepal: <i>Aeschynanthus parviflorus</i> Wall. (Gesneriaceae), <i>Buddleja asiatica</i> Lour. (Loganiaceae), <i>Carica papaya</i> L. (Caricaceae), <i>Drepanostachyum falcatum</i> (Nees) Keng f. (Gramineae) and <i>Spondias pinnata</i> (L. f.) Kurz (Anacardiaceae). <b>Methods:</b> The total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were measured using Folin-Ciocalteu’s phenol reagent and aluminium chloride methods, respectively. A 1,1−diphenyl−2−picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay was used to evaluate the free radical scavenging activity and an α-amylase inhibitory assay was carried out to determine the in vitro antidiabetic activity. <b>Results:</b> The phytochemical screening of five hydroalcoholic plant extracts revealed the presence of various secondary metabolites, including alkaloids, flavonoids, reducing sugars, saponins, terpenoids and tannins. The amounts of total phenolics and flavonoids were found to be the highest in <i>B. asiatica</i> leaf extract, which also showed the most potent free radical scavenging activity. Extract of <i>C. papaya</i> fruits showed the highest α-amylase inhibitory activity, whereas the extracts of <i>B. asiatica</i> leaves and <i>S. pinnata</i> leaves exhibited moderate activity. <b>Conclusions:</b> Some of the medicinal plants selected in this study showed high TPC and TFC values and potent bioactivities. These results may provide the scientific evidences of the traditional uses of these plants. However, further detailed studies on bioactive compounds isolation and identification and evaluation of in vivo pharmacological activities should be performed in future. |
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| spelling | doaj.art-a2c104ab827f4776ad0b819ca8b32f812022-12-22T03:02:18ZengMDPI AGMedicines2305-63202019-06-01627010.3390/medicines6020070medicines6020070Phytochemical Screening, Free Radical Scavenging and <i>α</i>-Amylase Inhibitory Activities of Selected Medicinal Plants from Western NepalKusum Sai0Rashmi Thapa1Hari Prasad Devkota2Khem Raj Joshi3School of Health and Allied Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pokhara University, Pokhara 33700, NepalSchool of Health and Allied Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pokhara University, Pokhara 33700, NepalGraduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, 5-1 Oehonmachi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 862-0973, JapanSchool of Health and Allied Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pokhara University, Pokhara 33700, Nepal<b>Background:</b> More than 700 plants are reported to be used for medicinal purposes in Nepal; however, many of them are not studied for their scientific evidences. The aims of the present study were the estimation of the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and the evaluation of the free radical scavenging and α-amylase inhibitory activities of five selected medicinal plants from western Nepal: <i>Aeschynanthus parviflorus</i> Wall. (Gesneriaceae), <i>Buddleja asiatica</i> Lour. (Loganiaceae), <i>Carica papaya</i> L. (Caricaceae), <i>Drepanostachyum falcatum</i> (Nees) Keng f. (Gramineae) and <i>Spondias pinnata</i> (L. f.) Kurz (Anacardiaceae). <b>Methods:</b> The total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were measured using Folin-Ciocalteu’s phenol reagent and aluminium chloride methods, respectively. A 1,1−diphenyl−2−picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay was used to evaluate the free radical scavenging activity and an α-amylase inhibitory assay was carried out to determine the in vitro antidiabetic activity. <b>Results:</b> The phytochemical screening of five hydroalcoholic plant extracts revealed the presence of various secondary metabolites, including alkaloids, flavonoids, reducing sugars, saponins, terpenoids and tannins. The amounts of total phenolics and flavonoids were found to be the highest in <i>B. asiatica</i> leaf extract, which also showed the most potent free radical scavenging activity. Extract of <i>C. papaya</i> fruits showed the highest α-amylase inhibitory activity, whereas the extracts of <i>B. asiatica</i> leaves and <i>S. pinnata</i> leaves exhibited moderate activity. <b>Conclusions:</b> Some of the medicinal plants selected in this study showed high TPC and TFC values and potent bioactivities. These results may provide the scientific evidences of the traditional uses of these plants. However, further detailed studies on bioactive compounds isolation and identification and evaluation of in vivo pharmacological activities should be performed in future.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6320/6/2/70medicinal plantsNepaltotal phenolic contenttotal flavonoid contentDPPH<i>α</i>-amylase |
| spellingShingle | Kusum Sai Rashmi Thapa Hari Prasad Devkota Khem Raj Joshi Phytochemical Screening, Free Radical Scavenging and <i>α</i>-Amylase Inhibitory Activities of Selected Medicinal Plants from Western Nepal Medicines medicinal plants Nepal total phenolic content total flavonoid content DPPH <i>α</i>-amylase |
| title | Phytochemical Screening, Free Radical Scavenging and <i>α</i>-Amylase Inhibitory Activities of Selected Medicinal Plants from Western Nepal |
| title_full | Phytochemical Screening, Free Radical Scavenging and <i>α</i>-Amylase Inhibitory Activities of Selected Medicinal Plants from Western Nepal |
| title_fullStr | Phytochemical Screening, Free Radical Scavenging and <i>α</i>-Amylase Inhibitory Activities of Selected Medicinal Plants from Western Nepal |
| title_full_unstemmed | Phytochemical Screening, Free Radical Scavenging and <i>α</i>-Amylase Inhibitory Activities of Selected Medicinal Plants from Western Nepal |
| title_short | Phytochemical Screening, Free Radical Scavenging and <i>α</i>-Amylase Inhibitory Activities of Selected Medicinal Plants from Western Nepal |
| title_sort | phytochemical screening free radical scavenging and i α i amylase inhibitory activities of selected medicinal plants from western nepal |
| topic | medicinal plants Nepal total phenolic content total flavonoid content DPPH <i>α</i>-amylase |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6320/6/2/70 |
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