Abstract
BackgroundThe role of plants for discovery of therapeutic potential accentuates the need to know their biological attributes. The present study aims to comprehend the biological attributes of Rhus punjabensis, an unexplored traditional medicinal plant.MethodsLeaf and stem extracts of R. punjabensis prepared in 11 different organic solvents are evaluated for multimode antioxidant potential, total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined through colorimetric assays, HPLC-DAD analysis was carried out for quantification of various polyphenols in extracts. Brine shrimp lethality, SRB and MTT assays were used to elucidate plant’s cytotoxic and antileishmanial potentials. Disc diffusion assay was used to elucidate the protein kinase inhibitory, antibacterial and antifungal spectrum.ResultsEthanol + ethyl acetate yielded maximum extract recovery from leaf (6.11 ± 1.09% w/w), total phenolic content (80.5 ± 2.18 μg GAE/mg extract) and reducing power potential (165.4 ± 2.29 μg AAE/mg extract). Maximum flavonoid content (30.50 ± 1.11 μg QE/mg extract) and highest DPPH based free radical scavenging activity (IC50 11.4 ± 2.07) was exhibited by the methanol + chloroform leaf extract. The methanol extract showed maximum total antioxidant capacity (74.5 ± 2.25 μg AAE/mg DW), protein kinase inhibitory (12.5 ± 1.10 bald phenotype at 100 μg/disc) and antifungal (MIC = 25 μg/disc against Aspergillus flavus) potential. Reverse phase HPLC-DAD based quantification reveals presence of gallic acid, apigenin, rutin and catechin in various extracts. Brine shrimp lethality assay demonstrated most extracts as highly cytotoxic (LC50 < 50 μg/mL) whereas chloroform extract of leaf demonstrated maximuminhibition against human leukemia cell line (IC50 7.80 ± 0.01 μg/mL). A significant activity against leishmanial promastigotes was demonstrated by n-hexane leaf extract (IC50 = 15.78 ± 0.15 μg/mL). A better antibacterial activity,by the extracts, against Gram positive strains as compared to Gram negative was observed.ConclusionsResults recommend multiple-solvent system as a critical factor to sumptuous the biological prospective of R. punjabensis and propose it to be a useful natural hub for the discovery of novel antioxidant, anticancer, antileishmanial and antimicrobial agents.
Highlights
The role of plants for discovery of therapeutic potential accentuates the need to know their biological attributes
R. punjabensis stewart leaves and stem extracts were prepared in varied polarities solvents and maximum extract yield was obtained by EtOH + EtOAc (6.11%) and CHCl3 (5.49%) from leaf and stem parts, respectively (Table 1). n-Hex extract exhibited the minimum yield (1.25 and 0.56% from leaf and stem parts, respectively)
The extraction is based on solubility of chemical constituents on polarity basis, it essential to study about the relationship between the extraction methodapplied and their physiochemical properties to substances to be extracted (Medziga et al, 2010)
Summary
The role of plants for discovery of therapeutic potential accentuates the need to know their biological attributes. The present study aims to comprehend the biological attributes of Rhus punjabensis, an unexplored traditional medicinal plant. The genus Rhus encompassing around 250 species of flowering plants is a well acknowledged ethno-medicinal genus which is extensively used by the local people of Pakistan especially in the Khyber PakhtoonKhwa (KPK) province. It belongs to family Anacardiacaea; comprising of mostly small trees and shrubs, often with a resinous bark and a milky sap, leaves are alternate, simple or compound, flowers are bisexual or unisexual [1]. In contrast to the previous studies employing one or two solvent extracts which do not possibly dissolve all phytochemicals, the current study is designed to evaluate the hidden potential of different solvent soluble extracts with reference to the polarity of active compounds present in the herb of R. punjabensis
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
