Abstract
BackgroundStrobilanthes heyneanus (Nilgirianthus heyneanus) belongs to the family Acanthaceae that contains many species with potential for diverse medicinal uses. It is also called ‘Karun kurinji’ and is commonly found in the South-West regions of India. The species are commonly used in rheumatic complaints, sprain of the ankle, and hernia. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the antioxidant activity, phytochemical analysis, and antibacterial activities of the root extract of S. heyneanus.ResultsThe radical scavenging and reduction assays such as DPPH● radical and OH● radical scavenging assays, as well as phosphomolybdenum reduction and Fe3+ reducing power assays, were determined for the root extract. The highest DPPH● radical scavenging activity was 88.23 ± 1.32 at 120 μg/mL concentration, and the calculated IC50 was 38.52 μg/mL concentration. The highest OH● radical scavenging activity was 51.28 ± 1.06 at 120 μg/mL concentration, and the calculated IC50 was 51.28 μg/mL concentration. The highest ABTS●+ radical scavenging activity was 91.28 ± 1.12 at 30 μg/mL concentration, and the calculated IC50 was 33.92 μg/mL concentration. The highest phosphomolybdenum reduction was 87.43 ± 0.90 at 120 μg/mL concentration, and the calculated RC50 was 24.74 μg/mL concentration. The highest Fe3+ reduction was 89.38 ± 0.98 at 120 μg/mL concentration, and the calculated RC50 was 31.06 μg/mL concentration. The antibacterial activity of S. heyneanus showed the highest zone of inhibition of 24 mm for Salmonella typhi with 500 μg/mL concentration. The cytotoxicity limits of the root extracts were tested by MTT assay using human dermal fibroblast cell lines, reflecting > 90% cell viability at a concentration of 500 μg/mL.ConclusionsThe current study showed that the root extract of S. heyneanus has better antioxidant properties and potential anti-bacterial compounds. The phytochemical analysis of the root extract showed the presence of alkaloids, steroids, terpenoids, phenols, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, glycosides, and carbohydrates, which are responsible for the antibacterial root extract of S. heyneanus synergistically.
Highlights
Strobilanthes heyneanus (Nilgirianthus heyneanus) belongs to the family Acanthaceae that contains many species with potential for diverse medicinal uses
Statement of novelty The roots of Strobilanthes heyneanus are extremely used in the Ayurvedic drug preparation, one of the most efficient plant species available in India, and its pharmacological activity is not much revealed so far
Phytochemical investigation The root extract of S. heyneanus was tested for phytochemical analysis for different categories of secondary metabolites of phytochemicals using specific chemical reagents [7, 8]
Summary
Strobilanthes heyneanus (Nilgirianthus heyneanus) belongs to the family Acanthaceae that contains many species with potential for diverse medicinal uses. The family Acanthaceae contains several species with a potential diversity of ethnobotanical uses. One of the important species in this family is Strobilanthes heyneanus (Nilgirianthus heyneanus) mostly found in the southwest regions of India, commonly called Karun kurinji [1]. Ayurveda drugs prepared from this species are useful. They are commonly used in rheumatic complaints, sprain of the angle, and hernia. S. heyneanus, called Karun Kurinji, is an undershrub, nearly a meter high, with a grooved stem, often covered with hairs. The flowers are blue urnshape of 1–1.2 cm long, which occur in axillary spikes, and five sepals are combined at the base. The stamens are 4, filaments are hairy at the base, and the capsule is 6–8 mm long, oblong, and 4-seeded. The members of the genus Strobilanthes are used as an anti-diabetic, diuretic, laxative, and potent antimicrobial agents [4] (Fig. 1)
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