Investigation of phytochemical constituents, GC-MS, DPPH free radical scavenging assay, and mineral contents of Glochidion sphaerogynum (Mull. Arg.) Kurz bark extract

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to assess phytochemical constituents, chemical composition, DPPH free radical scavenging assay and mineral contents of Glochidion sphaerogynum (Mull.Arg.) Kurz bark extract. Standard procedures were used to test preliminary phytochemical constituents as well as quantitative analysis for total alkaloid, flavonoid, saponin, tannin, phenolic and terpenoid content. The extract was examined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to know the biologically active compound. In-vitro antioxidant potential was investigated using DPPH free radical scavenging assay and the IC50 value for the antioxidant activity of bark extract was 37.4479 ?g/mL. The qualitative phytochemical investigation revealed the presence of important phytochemical constituents as well as considerable amounts of total alkaloid, flavonoid, saponin, tannin, phenolic and terpenoid content. GC-MS revealed the presence of biologically active compounds like 1,1,6-Trimethyl-3-methylene-2-(3,6,10,13,14-pentamethyl-3-ethenyl-pentadec-4-enyl)cyclohexane; Benzenepropanoic acid, 3,5-bis(1,1-dimethyl ethyl)-4-hydroxy-, methyl ester; Neophytadiene etc which would be important for medicinal industries. Mineral contents were determined by using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). The result revealed the presence of a good concentration of Na (10.552±0.343 ppm) and Ca (8.973±0.310 ppm) elements followed by K, Fe, Mg and Mn and very less concentrations of heavy metals such as Cd, Cr and Pb indicated the species was devoid of harmful metals.