Abstract

EXPLORING BIOACTIVE PROPERTIES OF METHANOLIC EXTRACTS FROM AYURVEDIC PLANTS: AN IN VITRO ASSESSMENT OF ANTI-MUTAGENIC, ANTIOXIDANT, AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES

Vaishnavi Tawde*, Rinkal Patel

Abstract

Medicinal plants have been used in healthcare since ancient time. Medicinal plants play dynamic roles in disease prevention and fit into all prevailing prevention strategies. They are significant source of molecule with medicinal or healing properties like phytochemicals and other bioactive compounds. These compounds, metabolites have therapeutic potential and give medicinal properties to the plant. The constituent compounds, bio actives and metabolites represent a significant pool for discovery of new drugs. Medicinal plants are precious assets in the fight against serious diseases like malignancies, cardiac diseases, arthritis and other bacterial and pathogenic infections etc. The goal of the current study was to determine the anti-mutagenic potential of Daruharidra (Berberis Aristata), Guduchi (Tinospora Cordifolia), Saptarangi (Salacia Oblonga), Vekhand (Acorus Calamus), it was evaluated using the Ames test. Where Vekhand, Guduchi, and Daruharidra exhibited significant anti-mutagenic activity, while Saptarangi showed lower efficacy. The well diffusion method was assessed to determine the antimicrobial activity of plant extracts, the Vekhand and Daruharidra have shown notable inhibition against all three bacterial species, Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Pseudomonas. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of tannins, saponins, terpenoids, steroids, and carbohydrates in varying amounts, while alkaloids, cardiac glycosides were totally absent. The quantitative determination of vitamin P showed varying optical densities, with Saptarangi exhibitng the highest concentration. Total phenolic content was assessed using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, with Guduchi displaying the highest value. The antioxidant activity, measured through the DPPH assay, demonstrated substantial free radical scavenging capacity, with Guduchi and Saptarangi showing the highest activity. The results highlight the potential of these plant extracts as sources of bioactive compounds with promising therapeutic applications in preventing microbial infections, mutagenesis, and oxidative stress.

Keywords: Phytochemicals, Acorus Calamus, Tinospora Cordifolia, Salacia Oblonga, Berberis Aristata, Anti-mutagenic, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial.