Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Phlogacanthus jenkinsii is an ethnomedicinal plant used by the people of the North East Region of India to manage various health issues including diabetes and rheumatism. The present study examines the total phenolic and flavonoid content, in vitro pharmacological evaluation of the plant extract/fractions, and phytochemical characterization using HRLC-MS. METHODS: Ethanol extract of Phlogacanthus jenkinsii leaves (PJEE) and its fractions were estimated for total phenolic and flavonoid content following the Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminium chloride method. DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and NO (nitric oxide) scavenging methods were utilized for evaluating antioxidant properties; albumin denaturation and proteinase inhibitory assay methods for assessing antiinflammatory potential. Additionally, extract/fractions were evaluated for their antidiabetic potential using α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition assays. HRLC-MS was employed for phytochemical profiling of the ethyl acetate fraction (PJEAF). RESULTS: PJEAF contains the highest total phenolic (48.3 ± 0.64 mg GAE/g) and total flavonoid (22.6 ± 0.09 mg QE/g) content. PJEAF scavenges DPPH radical (IC(50) = 29.1 ± 0.25 µg/mL) and NO radical (IC(50) = 46.6 ± 0.20 µg/mL) potently. PJEAF also exhibited potent antiinflammatory potential with IC(50) of 220.8 ± 1.33 and 231.5 ± 1.25 µg/mL against albumin denaturation and protease inhibition assay, respectively. PJEAF had potent inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes, with IC(50) values of 205.9 ± 1.12 and 132.2 ± 0.65 µg/mL, respectively. The HRLC-MS profiling of PJEAF indicated the presence of forty-three phytoconstituents, including 2'-Apo-beta-carotenal, Sinensetin, Kaempferol-3-o-(6"-malonyl-glucoside), Heliannone B, Rhoifolin, Quercetin-3-o-rutinoside. CONCLUSION: These findings indicated that Phlogacanthus jenkinsii possesses significant antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and antidiabetic potential, and presence of possible metabolites also makes the plant an important source of drug development and therapeutic applications.