Abstract
Dracaena reflexa, a traditionally significant medicinal plant, has not been extensively explored before for its phytochemical and biological potential. The present study was conducted to evaluate the bioactive phytochemicals and in vitro biological activities of D. reflexa, and perform in silico molecular docking validation of D. reflexa. The bioactive phytochemicals were assessed by preliminary phytochemical testing, total bioactive contents, and GC-MS analysis. For biological evaluation, the antioxidant (DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, and ABTS), antibacterial, thrombolytic, and enzyme inhibition (tyrosinase and cholinesterase enzymes) potential were determined. The highest level of total phenolic contents (92.72 ± 0.79 mg GAE/g extract) was found in the n-butanol fraction while the maximum total flavonoid content (110 ± 0.83 mg QE/g extract) was observed in methanolic extract. The results showed that n-butanol fraction exhibited very significant tyrosinase inhibition activity (73.46 ± 0.80) and acetylcholinesterase inhibition activity (64.06 ± 2.65%) as compared to other fractions and comparable to the standard compounds (kojic acid and galantamine). The methanolic extract was considered to have moderate butyrylcholinesterase inhibition activity (50.97 ± 063) as compared to the standard compound galantamine (53.671 ± 0.97%). The GC-MS analysis of the n-hexane fraction resulted in the tentative identification of 120 bioactive phytochemicals. Furthermore, the major compounds as identified by GC-MS were analyzed using in silico molecular docking studies to determine the binding affinity between the ligands and the enzymes (tyrosinase, acetylcholinesterase, and butyrylcholinesterase enzymes). The results of this study suggest that Dracaena reflexa has unquestionable pharmaceutical importance and it should be further explored for the isolation of secondary metabolites that can be employed for the treatment of different diseases.
Highlights
Medicinal plants represent a rich source of novel lead compounds that contribute to various therapeutic and pharmacological activities [1]
It is reported that antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, insecticidal, antimalarial, anti-aging, and various other therapeutic activities depend on a significant variety of secondary metabolites that are isolated from potential medicinal plants with the help of advanced, sensitive, and sophisticated equipment
Alkaloids were found to be present in DRHF and DRCF, tannins and phenols were observed in all extracts/fractions, flavonoids and saponins were found to be abundant in DRME and DRBF, steroids and glycosides were identified in a minute quantity in these extracts/fractions, and resins were not detected in any of the extracts/fractions (Table 1)
Summary
Medicinal plants represent a rich source of novel lead compounds that contribute to various therapeutic and pharmacological activities [1]. It is reported that antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, insecticidal, antimalarial, anti-aging, and various other therapeutic activities depend on a significant variety of secondary metabolites (glucosinolates, lycopenes, anthocyanidins, flavonoids, isoflavonoids, polyphenols, limonoids, carotenoids, phytoestrogens, and omega-3 fatty acids, etc.) that are isolated from potential medicinal plants with the help of advanced, sensitive, and sophisticated equipment. Under these characteristics, about 20,000 plant species have been explored for their medicinal purposes [4]. It is reported that two-thirds of all plant species have medicinal value and antioxidant potential [9]
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