Introduction
Rubia cordifolia L., also known as Indian madder, is a medicinal plant renowned for its traditional uses. This study investigates the proximate and phytochemical composition, antioxidant, cytotoxic, and antibacterial properties of ethanolic extracts from the roots, stems, and leaves of Rubia cordifolia L. Through comprehensive analysis, key compounds, including alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenolics, were identified.
Methods
The proximate analysis procedure for Rubia cordifolia L. followed established standard principles (AOAC, 2005). phytochemicals were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. The antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH radical scavenging assay. The DPPH assay demonstrated significant radical scavenging activity, with root extracts showing the highest inhibition percentage, comparable to that of the stem, leaves, and standard ascorbic acid. Cytotoxic effects were evaluated through Brine shrimp lethality assays, while antibacterial efficacy was determined against selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains using the well diffusion method.
Results
The proximate analysis revealed Rubia cordifolia L. to be rich in carbohydrates, fiber, and protein, with roots containing the highest amount of carbohydrates among all the plant parts. The phytochemical analysis of root, stem, and leaves determined secondary metabolites, including carbohydrates, proteins, alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, fats, sterols, coumarins, glycosides, anthraquinones, and tannins, were present in the ethanolic extracts of the R. cordifolia L. plant sample. The quantitative analysis for phenols and flavonoids revealed the root extract to contain the maximum amount of flavonoids, whose values deviated from the reported literature. The DPPH assay showed significant radical scavenging activity, with root extracts demonstrating the highest inhibition percentage that is IC50=2.57, comparable to stem, leaves, and standard ascorbic acid. Cytotoxic activity was calculated in the activity index and its LC50 values. Roots showed the maximum activity index as it has the lowest LC50 value. The antimicrobial activity of root, stem, and leaf extracts was assessed against gram-positive bacteria (B. subtilis and S. aureus) and gram-negative bacteria (E. coli and P. aeruginosa), with all the extracts inhibiting the growth of selected microorganisms on the agar plate. Roots have the highest antimicrobial inhibition effect with the lowest IC50 value of 830.92 µg/ml, followed by leaves and stems.
Conclusion
The results demonstrated significant bioactivity, indicating the therapeutic potential of Rubia cordifolia L. for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.
Keywords: Proximate analysis, phytochemicals, antioxidant activity, cytotoxicity, antibacterial potential, natural therapeuticsIntroduction
Rubia cordifolia L., also known as Indian madder, is a medicinal plant renowned for its traditional uses. This study investigates the proximate and phytochemical composition, antioxidant, cytotoxic, and antibacterial properties of ethanolic extracts from the roots, stems, and leaves of Rubia cordifolia L. Through comprehensive analysis, key compounds, including alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenolics, were identified.
Methods
The proximate analysis procedure for Rubia cordifolia L. followed established standard principles (AOAC, 2005). phytochemicals were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. The antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH radical scavenging assay. The DPPH assay demonstrated significant radical scavenging activity, with root extracts showing the highest inhibition percentage, comparable to that of the stem, leaves, and standard ascorbic acid. Cytotoxic effects were evaluated through Brine shrimp lethality assays, while antibacterial efficacy was determined against selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains using the well diffusion method.
Results
The proximate analysis revealed Rubia cordifolia L. to be rich in carbohydrates, fiber, and protein, with roots containing the highest amount of carbohydrates among all the plant parts. The phytochemical analysis of root, stem, and leaves determined secondary metabolites, including carbohydrates, proteins, alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, fats, sterols, coumarins, glycosides, anthraquinones, and tannins, were present in the ethanolic extracts of the R. cordifolia L. plant sample. The quantitative analysis for phenols and flavonoids revealed the root extract to contain the maximum amount of flavonoids, whose values deviated from the reported literature. The DPPH assay showed significant radical scavenging activity, with root extracts demonstrating the highest inhibition percentage that is IC50=2.57, comparable to stem, leaves, and standard ascorbic acid. Cytotoxic activity was calculated in the activity index and its LC50 values. Roots showed the maximum activity index as it has the lowest LC50 value. The antimicrobial activity of root, stem, and leaf extracts was assessed against gram-positive bacteria (B. subtilis and S. aureus) and gram-negative bacteria (E. coli and P. aeruginosa), with all the extracts inhibiting the growth of selected microorganisms on the agar plate. Roots have the highest antimicrobial inhibition effect with the lowest IC50 value of 830.92 µg/ml, followed by leaves and stems.
Conclusion
The results demonstrated significant bioactivity, indicating the therapeutic potential of Rubia cordifolia L. for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.
Keywords: Proximate analysis, phytochemicals, antioxidant activity, cytotoxicity, antibacterial potential, natural therapeutics
