Traditionally used edible Solanaceae plants of Mizoram, India have high antioxidant and antimicrobial potential for effective phytopharmaceutical and nutraceutical formulations

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance Solanaceae plants have been used as traditional medicines in Mizoram, India. This warrants the presence of therapeutic compounds and various bioactive phytochemicals in these plants, and characterizing their structures could lead to a possible focus for drug development. Aim of the study Solanaceae plants are incredible sources of proteins and minerals; some even have high medicinal values which has been recognized traditionally. The present study was designed to explore and document the ethnobotany, phytochemical and mineral nutrient composition, antimicrobial properties, antioxidant potential and to identify functional groups from edible species of Solanaceae from Mizoram, India. Materials and methods Field surveys and samples collection was conducted from Aizawl District, Mizoram, India. All the studied samples were extracted using Soxhlet apparatus for the analysis of bioactive compounds. The total phenol, total flavonoid and total anthocyanin contents were determined using standard methods. The antioxidant activities were measured using DPPH free radical scavenging, APX, CAT and SOD activities. The proximate analyses and mineral contents were determined by standard methods. The antibacterial potential was determined using the agar well diffusion method, and the functional groups were analysed using FTIR. All the results were reported as the mean ± standard deviation. The linear regression coefficient (R 2 ) for total flavonoid and phenolic content with antioxidant activity was analysed using Graph Pad Prism Version 5. P-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results The phytochemical screenings showed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids and saponins in all the samples. The highest total phenolic content was found in Solanum anguivi Lam. (29.51 mg GAE/g), and Capsicum annuum L. contained the highest total flavonoids (35.15 ± 0.03 mg/g). Proteins and carbohydrates contents were found to be the highest in Solanum melongena L. (28.49 mg/g) and Physalis angulata L. ( 35.64 mg/g) respectively. Elemental analysis showed the presence of Calcium (Ca), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn), Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg) and Sodium (Na) in high proportion in all the studied samples. All the plant extracts showed effective antibacterial activities against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The Fourier Transformed Infra-Red Spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra revealed multiple functional groups in these plants species which could be used to identify bioactive compounds that can be subsequently utilized as herbal remedies for various ailments. Conclusion Our findings suggest that a considera...

Comprehensive Assessment of the Antioxidant and Anticancer Potential of Selected Ethnobotanical Plants

“…Around 35,000-70,000 plant species have reportedly been used so far as medicines [45], around 14-28% of the 250,000 plant species that are thought to exist globally [46]. Such medicinal plant species are enriched with various bioactive compounds offering anticancer, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities [47]. Further exhaustive screening of plant extracts is required to confirm the presence of bioactive compounds for their biological activities and therapeutic potential against various diseases, including cancers [36,48].…”

“…Figures 2-5). Thus, plant extracts exhibiting lesser IC 50 values showed higher antioxidant potential [47,52], whereas high IC 50 values reflect low antioxidant potential [53]. Various free radical scavenging methods are used to measure the potential antioxidant source in treating oxidative stress-mediated diseases [54].…”

Ethnobotanical study of the non-medicinal plant by village communities in the karst area of Pacitan, East Java, Indonesia

“…Family Solanaceae was also found in ethnobotanical studies in the Aizawl District of Mizoram, India, where Solanaceae plants can be found in home gardens, roadside, or wild plants in the area. Apart from being an edible plant whose fruit is useful as a source of protein and minerals, species such as S. melongena are also useful as medicinal plants (Ralte et al 2021). However, the study results of nonmedicinal plants in the villages of Bungur and Tulakan did not obtain information on using unique species as edible plants.…”

Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Phenolic Compounds from Adenaria floribunda Stem: Economic Assessment

“…Several studies have focused on the potential of medicinal plants as sources of phytochemical and polypharmacology compounds present in different plant tissues such as leaves, seeds, flowers, stems, and roots [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]. A natural group of secondary metabolites of plants considered useful for its beneficial health effects in humans is phenolic compounds [ 9 ].…”