Ameliorated antioxidant and phytochemical profiling of Canscora decussata – An ayurvedic medicinal plant

Abstract

C. decussata (Shankhpushpi) is the popular Ayurvedic drug called ‘Medhya Rasayana’ that helps for memory and cognition. Moreover, it also supports the improvement of human health and protection. This study investigated the antioxidant and phytochemical potential of aerial parts of Wild and in-vitro regenerated C. decussata plants. Both wild and in-vitro regenerated plants were extracted separately using petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol, and water. The antioxidant and phytochemical profiling, including total phenol contents, total flavonoid contents, DPPH radical scavenging assay, ABTS+ radical cation assay, ferric reducing antioxidant power assay, metal chelation assay, and phosphomolybdenum assay were investigated. Furthermore, the phytoconstituents presented in C. decussata were also determined by GC-MS analysis. In yield percentage, the wild variety of C. decussata gave more yield percentage of 9.2%. The antioxidant activity of the methanol extracts of wild and in-vitro regenerated plants showed the highest potential of total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, DPPH radical scavenging activity, ABTS•+ scavenging activity, total antioxidant activity, metal chelating activity and ferric reduces antioxidant activity with 342.85 ± 1.98 mg GAE/g, 383.77 ± 11.74 mg RE/g, 37.43 μg/ml of EC50, 14409.37 ± 34.45 μM TEAC/g, 265.41 ± 3.15 mg AAE/g, 184.61 ± 12.20 mg EDTA equivalents/g extract, 868.88 ± 23.41 mM Fe(II)/mg extract respectively. Several phenolic compounds were detected in GC-MS analysis, mainly 12-oleanen-3-yl acetate, Lupeol acetate, Lupeol, Lup-20 (29) -en-3-one, -Amyrin, Lup-20 (29) -en-3-one, Olean-12-en-3-one, and Taraxasterol, which are responsible for the higher activity of C. decussata. A wider influence on phytolining in C. decussata will be provided for this study. The above pieces of evidence are strongly indicates that natural source-based C. decussata is a potent candidate for pharmaceutical services and healthcare sustainability. It opens up new paths towards both economic and clinical sustainability. I hope this endeavour will ultimately create new opportunities for potential health applications.