Abstract

Hugonia mystax Linn., is an ethanobotanically important plant which plays a vital role in primary healthcare of tribals from Tiruvannamalai hills, Tamil Nadu, India. There is paucity in the literature regarding the active phytoconstituents of H. mystax contributing to the biological activities claimed by traditional healers. Therefore, the present investigation aims to analyze the metabolite profile of leaf extracts of H. mystax. Quantitative determination of total phenolic and flavonoid of leaves was carried out. The highest amount of phenolic and flavonoid was found in ethanol extracts of the leaves. RP-HPLC analysis of individual phenolic compounds revealed the presence of Gallic acid, Catechol, Caffeic acid, Vanillin, p-Coumaric acid and Ferulic acid. Catechol was found to be the highest in water extract. GC-MS of chloroform fraction and LC-MS of methanol/water fraction led to the identification of 19 and 21 compounds respectively. Chloroform fraction revealed the presence of 1-Hexanol (37.69%), Cinnamene (13.81%) and p-Xylol (9.39%), whereas, methanol/water fraction revealed the presence of p-Myrcene (19.5%), 4-Vinyphenol (12.72%) and p-Vinylguaiacol (4-VG) (7.82%) respectively as the major compounds. This is the very first report of metabolite analysis of leaves of H. mystax L. from south-west region of India. This investigation identified the major phytoconstituents predominantly present in leaves, which may probably be responsible for the traditional claims of its therapeutic properties.

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