Evaluation of phytochemicals, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of Lasiococca comberi Haines leaf extracts

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DOI: 10.1007/s42535-026-01904-3
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Keywords: DPPH, Human pathogenic bacteria, n Lasiococca comberin , Phytochemicals, Threatened


Abstract


Lasiococca comberi, a member of the Euphorbiaceae family, is a threatened tree species found in the Eastern Ghats of India. This study aimed to screen for various phytochemical constituents in L. comberi leaf extracts, measure antioxidant activities and evaluate antibacterial properties of leaf extracts against various bacterial strains. Phytochemical analysis of fractionated extracts of L. comberi leaves using different solvents, such as aqueous, methanol, acetone, chloroform, and n-hexane, revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, phenols, tannins, saponins, anthraquinones, quinones, coumarins, and resins. The quantitative analysis of phytochemicals showed that the amount of phenol (252.01 ± 0.95 mg/g gallic acid equivalent) and flavonoid (321.53 ± 1.33 mg/g quercetin equivalent) is highest in the methanolic leaf extract. For antioxidant activity analysis, the DPPH free radical scavenging method was used. The methanolic and acetone leaf extracts at concentrations above 25 µg/ml, and the aqueous extract at concentrations above 75 µg/ml, showed significant antioxidant activity. The antimicrobial activity analysis of crude extracts was done by measuring the zone of inhibition using the well-diffusion method. Two gram-negative bacterial strains, namely Vibrio cholerae, Salmonella typhi, and two gram-positive bacterial strains, namely Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus mutans, have been used to investigate the antibacterial properties of L. comberi leaf extracts. The acetone extract had the best inhibitory activity against the bacterial strains. The acetone leaf extract showed the highest inhibition zone (18.67 ± 0.33 mm) against the Streptococcus mutans. The current findings of this analysis could be helpful for the use of L. comberi leaves in health care practices.

DPPH, Human pathogenic bacteria, n                     Lasiococca comberin                  , Phytochemicals, Threatened


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Author Information


Department of Botany, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, India