Vegetos
(An International Journal of Plant Research & Biotechnology)
Ethnobotany, microscopy, phytoconstituents, and antioxidant activity of Xylosma longifolia Clos (Salicaceae) from Assam, India
*Article not assigned to an issue yet
Bhattacharyya Rakhi, Mehmud Selim, Sultana Sabrin, Kumari Sony
Research Articles | Published: 15 October, 2025
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Keywords: n Xylosma longifolian , Ethnobotany, Phytochemical, Natural antioxidant, Microscopic features
Abstract
An ethnobotanical exploration among the tea garden communities in the Nagaon district of Assam (India) recorded the use of leaves of Xylosma longifolia against urinary tract infections and the fruits to facilitate parturition. The phytoconstituents of leaves and stem bark were previously investigated, but those of fruits, along with their antioxidant potential, remained unexplored. Furthermore, the microscopical features of this species were also unknown. To address these issues, plant samples were analyzed for microscopic study, including freehand transverse sections, epidermal morphology, and powder microscopy. A significant anatomical feature includes the presence of hypodermis in the leaf, leading to the first record for the genus. Through GC–MS analysis, the phytoconstituents of fruits were evaluated and recorded Pterin-6-carboxylic acid; 2(3H,4H)-Cyclopenta[b]furanone, 3a,6a-dihydro-; Limonene oxide, trans-; 3,4-Altrosan; D-mannoheptulose; Cyclohexanol, 1R-4-trans-acetamido-2,3-trans-epoxy; Methyl 9,10-octadecadienoate; Methyl 11-(2-cyclopenten-1-yl) undecanoate; and Ergosta-5, 22-dien-3-ol, acetate, (3ß,22E)-. The fruit extract demonstrates overall antioxidant property through DPPH assay, probably due to the presence of tannins and antioxidant compounds like Pterin-6-carboxylic acid, D-mannoheptulose, and Limonene oxide, trans-. The present study will contribute to the taxonomy of the genus, provide ethnobotanical information, and serve as a potential source for various biocompounds, natural antioxidants, and drug discovery.
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Author Information
Department of Botany, Nowgong Girls’ College, Nagaon, India