Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDY, ANTIBACTERIAL, ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIINFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF FRUITS OF ZANTHOXYLUM ARMATUM

Sagar K.C.*, Prajol Paudel, Navaraj Khadka, Sanjeet Khadka, Krishma Paudel, Hasina Ranjitkar, Bijaya Dahal and Sunil Gautam

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Abstract

This study examines the phytochemicals of Zanthoxylum armatum, a medicinal plant known for its antibacterial, antioxidant, and antiinflammatory properties. The plant, also known as Timur in Nepal, is used in indigenous Asian practices. Its therapeutic efficacy is attributed to its use in fruits, leaves, stems, bark, and roots. The study utilized solvents like chloroform, ethanol, and methanol for extracting plant fruit, followed by hydro distillation for essential oils. The phytochemicals were analyzed qualitatively, with antioxidant properties assessed using DPPH free radical scavenging, antibacterial activities determined using disc diffusion, and anti-inflammatory activity determined using human RBSs membrane stabilization. The study reveals the presence of alkaloids, steroids, flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins, and saponins in methanolic extracts, while carbohydrates are absent, and these compounds are also present in ethanolic extracts. The different solvent extracts showed ZOI for all the tested bacteria at the range of 6-11 mm. The antibacterial potency of the extracts was found to be concentration-dependent. The bacterial activity of essential oil against S. typhi and S. aureus was found to be more sensitive than Azithromycin and Ciprofloxacin. The bacterial activity of methanolic extracts of Z. armatum against KLE was found to be more sensitive than Azithromycin and Ciprofloxacin. The chloroform extract of Z. armatum exhibited low antioxidant activity, while the ethanolic and methanolic extracts exhibited high antioxidant activity and good anti-inflammatory potency, respectively. Hence, essential phytochemicals with antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory qualities were discovered in the study, laying the groundwork for additional investigation and the creation of new drug entities.

Keywords: Zanthoxylum armatum, Phytochemical study, Antibacterial activity, Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory activity.