Phytochemical analysis, antioxidant and anticancer activity of Aerva javanica growing in district Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the photochemical, antioxidants and anticancer activity of the medicinal plant Aerva javanica. This plant belongs to the Amaranthaceae family. Locally it is called “bui”. It is a shrub with a long tap root that grows all over India in the wild. The plant extracts were prepared using ethanol, methanol and distilled water as solvents. The antioxidant activity was determined using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate) free radical scavenging activity and IC50 was determined. The total flavonoids compounds found in Aerva javanica ethanolic extract were (0.90 ±0.16) while the total phenolic contents found in ethanolic extract were (0.78 ±0.16), followed by the methanolic and aqueous extract. The antioxidant results of methanolic extract of Aerva javanica showed 0.78 ±0.18 percent inhibition and SCV 49.10% at concentration of 1.5 mg/ml, ethanolic extract showed 0.54 ±0.12 percent inhibition with 64.28% SCV. Phytochemical analysis of best result oriented Aerva javanica extract was done with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) technique. The results revealed the presence of different compounds predominantly Acetone (1.18%), Ethyl Acetate (38.95%), (20.77%), n-Propyl acetate (4.09%), Isobutyl acetate (2.71%), (3.84%), isoquinoline,1-[(3,4-diethoxyphenyl)methyl]-6,7-diethoxy- (3.36%), Cyclohexanone (1.43%), 1,1-Diisobutoxy-isobutane (2.02%), n-Hexadecanoic acid (5.61%), Phytol (3.57%), 9-Octadecenoic acid, 1,2,3-propanetriyl ester (10.72%), Octadecanoic acid (1.78%), Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (3.48%), Squalene (1.40%), 2,2-Dimethyl-3-(3,7,16,20-tetramethyl (1.12%) and 1,6,10,14,18,22-Tetracosahexaen-3-ol (1.195%). The study concludes that extensive research is required to detect more novel compounds in order to develop effective management approaches that significantly reduce the impact of the pathogens on human health as well as on environment.

Keywords

• phytochemistry
• antioxidant potential
• anticancer potential
• GC-MS analysis
• Aerva javanica