Bioactive potential of Bridelia retusa (L.) A.Juss. plant

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Bridelia retusa is a species which belongs to the genus Bridelia, included in Phyllanthaceae family which is a deciduous, large- or small-sized tree. It is generally referred as Mahavira or aghan found in dry deciduous regions. The present investigation for study of phytochemical compounds, proximate analysis, and mineral composition of leaves, stem, stem bark, unripened, and ripened fruit of B. retusa. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The collected material was dried and crushed into fine powder for further analysis. For the study of presence of secondary metabolites, qualitative phytochemical analysis of plant was carried out. For the proximate analysis, various plant parts such as leaves, stem, stem bark, unripened, and ripened fruit were used. In the proximate analysis, different parameters like ash, crude fiber, crude protein, moisture, dry matter, and crude fat was studied. Different macro- and micro-elements were studied from plant by standard method. RESULT: In the present work, highest amounts of nitrogen (2.42 ± 0.23%), potassium (1.97 ± 0.1%), iron (697.55 ± 1.29 ppm), zinc (201.05 ± 0.5 ppm), copper (132.73 ± 0.28 ppm), manganese (330.09 ± 1.2 ppm), and sodium (0.10±3.72 %) were found in the leaves of B. retusa. Higher phosphorus (0.21±0.1%) and calcium (1.67±0.2%) in stem bark was observed in B. retusa, respectively. The above results revealed rich amounts of macro- and micro-elements; hence, the whole plant is nutritionally important. The ash and crude proteins were more in leaves, and crude fibers are in the stem when compared with other parts of B. retusa. In the present study, we found that ash (17.5%) in the fruit, dry matter (90%) in the stem bark, crude fiber (52.5%) in the stem, crude fat (62.5%), crude protein (15.12%), and moisture (20%) in leaves were more when compared with other parts of the plant. Tannins and saponins are frequently observed in all parts of the plant. Alkaloids were present in all parts of the plant, except stem. CONCLUSION: The results revealed rich amounts of macro- and micro-elements; hence, the whole plant is nutritionally important. The acetone and alcohol extracts show highest phytochemicals than the other solvent extract. The plants are rich in tannin and saponin.