Exploring the phytochemical, antioxidant, antimicrobial and analgesic potentials of Solanum erianthum as an alternative biological feedstock for producing sustainable biochemicals

Abstract

Solanum erianthum is a medicinal herb that offers health benefits and valuable phytochemicals in treating human ailments. Phytochemicals and therapeutic properties of different parts of S. erianthum in four solvents: water, petroleum ether, chloroform, and methanol were evaluated. Stem showed high alkaloids (15.40 ± 0.7%) and tannins (8.6 ± 0.3%), followed by higher root saponins (12.2 ± 0.2%). In contrast, leaf exhibited high flavonoid (13.5 ± 0.5%) and phenolic (12.30 ± 1.0%) contents. The petroleum ether extract of the stem had the highest 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) scavenging activity (70.66 ± 0.3%) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) activity (70.55 ± 0.08 μg/mL). In contrast, the petroleum ether extract of the root had maximum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (1.065 ± 0.6 absorbance at 695 nm), while the fruit aqueous extract showed highest activity in ferric thiocyanate assay (FTC) (61.53 ± 0.1). Antibacterial activity ranged from 19 to 51 mm, while antifungal was from 11 to 43 mm. The methanol extracts of the root and leaf showed the highest antimicrobial activity against the tested bacteria and fungi. The methanol extract of fruit showed the highest analgesic activity (11.98 ± 2.14 s) and writhing inhibition (1st phase 85.1% and 2nd phase 96.7%), as confirmed by the formalin-induced paw licking test. Fruit extract showed active central and peripheral analgesic effects in early (88.9%) and late (92.8%) phases of pain, comparable to paracetamol (60 mg/kg). In conclusion, this study demonstrates the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties as well as central and peripheral analgesic effects of S. erianthum extracts.