Exploration of phytochemistry and their applications of Sesamum indicum L. and Nyctanthes arbor-tristis extracts

¹ Central Department of Chemistry, Kritipur, Nepal
² Amrit Campus, Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal

^* Corresponding author: susanjoshi68@gmail.com

Abstract

Nepal is one of the richest countries in plant biodiversity since a significantly large variety of medicinal plants are found at different altitudes. This research mainly focuses on searching for phyto-compounds in plant-leaf-derived methanolic extracts and their biological applications. Cultivated S. indicum and N. arbor-tristis plants were selected to prepare methanol extracts. Phenolics, flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, etc., as secondary metabolites were identified from phytochemical screening tests, UV-vis, and FT-IR spectroscopic studies. Further, GC-MS analysis identified flavonoid, ester, ether, acid, alcohol, amide, and lactone. The total phenolic and the total flavonoid content were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu and AlCl₃ colourimetric method, respectively, using a 96-well plate. The phenolic content of S.indicum and N. arbor-tristis extracts was 177.76 ± 3.40 mg/ g GAE and 131.32 ± 5.03 mg/ g GAE, respectively. Similarly, the flavonoid content of S.indicum and N. arbor-tristis extracts was 77.90 ± 0.78 mg/g QE and 173.75 ± 3.89 mg/ g QE, respectively. Both of these extracts exhibit eco-friendliness according to an oral acute toxicity test. The extracts possess remarkable antioxidant and anti-diabetic properties. However, they did not exhibit anti-fungal and anti-bacterial activity. These results may help in discovering pharmaceuticals and indicate that many plants in Nepalese forests are potent for medicine, and scientific study is essential for their use.