Phytochemical and bioactive efficiency of Dicranopteris linearis

Abstract

Pteridophytes form an important part of the biodiversity of our country, especially Western Ghats. Limited number of studies has been done to explore the phytochemical and medicinal potentialities of ferns as compared to other higher plants. The present study aims at evaluating the phytochemical, antibacterial, antioxidant, cytotoxicity and GC–MS analysis of Dicranopteris linearis (Burm. f.) Underw., commonly called as ‘old world forked fern’. Fronds are extracted by hot solvent extraction method with soxhlet apparatus using petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, methanol and water. Qualitative phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of various secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, cardioglycosides, phenolics, terpenoids, steroids, quinones, anthocyanin saponins, tannins and betacyanin. Extracts are subjected to antibacterial assay against five pathogenic bacterial strains such as Shigella flexneri, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi. Extracts in ethyl acetate and methanol showed significant antimicrobial activity against the strains tested. Analysis of antioxidant activity using DPPH free radical scavenging assay depicted remarkable antioxidant efficacy of the plant extract. The GC–MS analysis of methanol extract showed the presence of various phytochemicals such as itaconic anhydride, methylpalmitate, phthalic acid, methyl linolelaidate, 9-octadecanoic acid etc, with antimicrobial and bioactive properties. Cytotoxicity analysis using MTT assay revealed that the plant extract is non-toxic to normal cells. Isolation and characterization of active principle from the plant may lead to further development in fern phytochemistry.