#phytochemical analysis

Diabetes mellitus, a common metabolic disorder, demands the development of safe and affordable therapeutic agents. Traditional medicinal plants provide valuable bioactive compounds with antidiabetic and antimicrobial potential. Ctenolepis garcinii, a climber from the Cucurbitaceae family used in South Indian and Sri Lankan medicine, remains scientifically underexplored. This study investigates its phytochemical composition and biological activities using phytochemical, chromatographic, antimicrobial, and molecular docking approaches, emphasizing its antidiabetic and antimicrobial efficacy. Ethanolic extracts of C. garcinii underwent qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening, FTIR, UV–Vis, HPLC flavonoid profiling, GC-MS volatile compound identification, antimicrobial testing against Streptococcus aureus and Candida albicans, and molecular docking targeting SPA and Sky proteins. Phytochemical analysis revealed major constituents such as alkaloids (25.90%), flavonoids (21.50%), and phenols (18.40%). FTIR confirmed hydroxyl, aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, ethers, halogens, and disulfides. UV–Vis analysis showed strong absorption at 353 nm and 407 nm, indicating phenolic and flavonoid presence. HPLC detected flavonoids including naringin (15.45 µg/mL), quercetin, kaempferol, and luteolin. GC–MS identified 20 compounds, notably tetracosanal (39.55%), 3-methylene-1-oxa-spiro[3,6]decane, and 3-methyl-2-(2-oxopropyl)furan. Antimicrobial assays showed moderate inhibition zones (8 mm for S. aureus, 7 mm for C. albicans). Docking studies revealed strong binding affinities of 3-methyl-2-(2-oxopropyl)furan with SPA (-7.4 kcal/mol) and Sky proteins (−8.3 kcal/mol). Overall, C. garcinii demonstrates a rich phytochemical profile with promising antidiabetic and antimicrobial potential. The identified compounds, supported by docking results, highlight its ethnomedicinal relevance and warrant further pharmacological and toxicological studies for drug development.

World is rich in knowledge with a wide diversity of medicinal plants which provide people with traditional healing methods for diseases in general healthcare area. The agar diffusion method was used to examine the antibacterial activity of different solvent extracts of Biophytum sensitivum tested against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Staphylococcus aureus. For qualitative phytochemical investigation, several solvent extracts of the complete Biophytum sensitivum plant were investigated. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Biophytum sensitivum ethanol extract had significant antimicrobial effectiveness against Escherichia coli (456 µg/ml), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (419 µg/ml). The ethanolic extract showed (419 µg/ml and 398 µg/ml) antimicrobial activity against Klebsiella pneumonia and Staphylococcus aureus respectively. The lowest antibacterial activity was found in acetone extract with MIC (198µg/ml) of Biophytum sensitivum. Various parts of the plant has the presence of variety of phytoconstituents such as flavonoids, saponins, tannins, terpenes, steroids, amino acids, essential oil, polysaccharides and pectin.

The aim of the present study was to investigate antibacterial activity of the leaf of Mentha spicata plant against common pathogenic bacteria. The agar diffusion method was used to examine the antibacterial activity of different solvent extracts of Mentha spicata tested against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus. For qualitative phytochemical investigation, several solvent extracts of the complete M. spicata plant were investigated. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of M. spicata ethanol extract had significant antimicrobial effectiveness against Escherichia coli (489 µg/ml), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (449 µg/ml). The ethanolic extract showed (437 µg/ml and 410 µg/ml) antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus respectively. The lowest antibacterial activity was found in acetone extract with MIC (216µg/ml) of M. spicata. Various parts of the plant have the presence of variety of phytoconstituents such as flavonoids, saponins, tannins, terpenes, steroids, amino acids, essential oil, polysaccharides and pectin.