Phytochemical composition, Antioxidant Activity, and Cytotoxicity of Asystasia gangetica (Linn) T. Anderson Extracts

Abstract

Asystasia gangetica (Linn) T. Anderson, commonly known as Baya, is a perennial herbaceous plant with often-overlooked medicinal properties. This study evaluated the biological activities of A. gangetica extracts derived from different plant parts, including leaves, stems, roots, and the whole plant, using 70% ethanol as the solvent. The extracts were analyzed for their phytochemical composition, total phenolic and flavonoid content, antioxidant activity, and cytotoxicity on human red blood cells. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, phenolics, flavonoids, coumarins, tannins, terpenoids, steroids, and glycosides, indicating a high concentration of bioactive compounds. Quantitative analysis showed that leaves contained the highest levels of phenolic and flavonoid compounds, followed by roots, whole plants, and stems. Antioxidant activity was assessed using both ABTS and DPPH assays, yielding varying results. In the ABTS assay, stems exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity (IC50 = 5.977 ± 0.115 µg/mL), followed by the whole plant, leaves, and roots. Conversely, in the DPPH assay, leaves exhibited the highest antioxidant potential (IC50 = 25.930 ± 0.370 µg/mL), followed by the whole plant, roots, and stems. Cytotoxicity analysis on human red blood cells revealed that significant hemolysis occurred at higher extract concentrations, while lower concentrations had minimal effects. Anti-hemolysis activity was weak, with roots showing the highest inhibition (21% at 100 µg/mL), decreasing to 0% at higher concentrations. These findings suggest the potential antioxidant properties of A. gangetica. However, the observed cytotoxic effects warrant further investigation to evaluate its safety for therapeutic applications.