Phytochemical Constituents and in-vitro antioxidant Activity of Aleuritopteris bicolor Leaves, Crinum amoenum Bulbs, and Drynaria coronans Rhizomes of Nepal

Background: Due to plant derived chemicals’s potential as antioxidant agents, there has been a growing interest in using them to cure or prevent diseases. Similarly plant species like Aleuritopteris bicolor(AB) leaves,Crinum amoenum(CA) bulbs and Drynaria coronans (DC) rhizomes are used as traditional herbal medicine in Nepal.
Aims: This study aims to assess the qualitative and quantitative phytochemical constituents along with the antioxidant potency of extracts from the leaves of AB, bulbs of CA, and rhizomes of DC.
Methods and Materials: The qualitative phytochemical profile was assessed using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and standard phytochemical tests. TLC was performed on silica gel 60 F254 plates (20×20 cm, layer thickness: 0.2 mm) using a solvent system of chloroform: methanol: water at (6:4:1) ratio. Plates were visualized under UV light (254 nm and 365 nm) and further developed using 1% FeCl₃, 10% H₂SO₄, and DPPH for antioxidant activity. Quantitative analysis of total flavonoid and phenol content was conducted using aluminum chloride and Folin-Ciocalteu reagents, respectively. The antioxidant activity was measured through the DPPH free radical scavenging assay.
Results: The selected species were found to contain flavonoid, phenol, saponin and tannin. Higher flavonoid and phenol content was found in the leaves of AB (398.861 ± 6.94 mg quercetin/ g dry extract) and rhizomes of CA (172.97 ± 1.777 gallic acid/ g dry extract) respectively whereas leaves of AB had the most potent antioxidant activity (IC50= 3.233 µg/ml).
Conclusions: All the selected plant species were found to have significant constituents. Among them, the leaves of AB extract had the highest flavonoid concentration and the higher antioxidant activity, highlighting its potential for further medicinal use.
Keywords: Phytochemical screening, antioxidant, Aleuritopteris bicolor leaves, Crinum amoenum bulbs, Drynaria coronans rhizomes