Evaluation of phytochemical composition, in vitro antioxidant, antibacterial activities and GC-MS analysis of Anneslea fragrans Wall.

The present study was done to evaluate the phytochemical constituents, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities of the ethanolic extract of leaves, stem, and fruit of Anneslea fragrans Wall. Qualitative phytochemical screening of three different extracts revealed the presence of various secondary metabolites, including alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, etc. Quantitative analysis revealed that the highest total phenolic, flavonoid, and tannin content in the stem extract followed by leaf and fruit, respectively. CG-MS analysis of all three extracts revealed the presence of various antioxidant, antibacterial, anticancerous, hepatoprotective, antiurolithiac, and anti-inflammatory compounds. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using the phosphomolybdate assay, and DPPH free radical scavenging assay which depicts the maximum activity was observed in stem ethanolic extract, followed by leaves and fruit extract. Antibacterial activity showed the highest zone of inhibition (ZOI) for Escherichia coli (9mm-15mm) in leaf extract, while the stem extract exhibited the highest ZOI against Staphylococcus aureus (9mm-14mm). Our findings revealed that the Anneslea fragrans Wall. could be used for antioxidant and antibacterial agents.