Evaluation of phytochemicals, enzyme inhibitory, antibacterial and antioxidant effects of Psydrax dicoccos Gaertn

Abstract

The study was aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition, antioxidant, antibacterial and enzyme inhibitory effects of Psydrax dicoccos leaf (PDL). Hydroalcoholic extract (HAE) was recorded with high concentration of total phenolics (59.68 ± 0.3 mg GAE/g), total flavonoids (57.85 ± 0.5 mgQRE/g) and proanthocyanidin (24.98 ± 0.17 mgAAE/g). Ethyl acetate (31.76 ± 1.52 mgQE/g), methanolic (34.99 ± 0.16 mgAAE/g) and aqueous (75.00 ± 0.30 mgGAE/g) extracts showed a high amount of total flavanols, vitamin E and total tannins, respectively. GC-MS analysis facilitated the identification of 56 metabolites with squalene and cinnamic acid as prominent compounds. HAE showed moderate α-amylase (IC₅₀ of 48.94 ± 0.5 µg/mL) and α-glucosidase (IC₅₀ of 46.98 ± 0.5 µg/mL) inhibitory activities. HAE is also perceived as a potent radical scavenger, reducing agent, metal chelating power, and total antioxidant capacity. For antibacterial activity, the aqueous extract was most effective with the MIC ranged from 87.5 to 175 µg/mL. Further characterization and in vivo studies are suggested to validate its traditional claim as a potential source of therapeutic agents.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Antidiabetic
• antioxidant
• enzyme inhibition
• secondary metabolites
• Rubiaceae

Disclosure statement

All authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The authors are grateful to Science and Engineering Research Board (Grant No. EMR/2016/007164) for financial support.