Phytochemical profile, antioxidant potential and DFT study of Araucaria columnaris (G. Forst.) Hook. Branch extracts.

In the present study, phytochemical investigation, antioxidant potential and quantum study on the dichloromethane (DCM) and ethanol extracts of Araucaria columnaris (G. Forst.) Hook. branches have been carried out. The ethanol extract has higher total bioactive contents as compare with DCM extract such as total polyphenolic contents, total flavonoids contents and total tannin contents. The phytochemical quantification and volatile composition of most bioactive extract (ethanol) has been carried out by RP-HPLC-DAD (9-compounds) and GC-MS (19-compounds). The antioxidant potential was demonstrated using free radical scavenging, phosphomolybdenum, metal chelating and reducing power assays. The ethanol extract has higher antioxidant potential. The Density Functional Theory (DFT) has been carried out on major phytochemicals of ethanol extract. The current findings revealed an excellent concentration of bioactive compounds in A. columnaris (G. Forst.) Hook. branch, which reaffirms the great significance of the current work and benefaction to natural products chemistry.

Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by the Taungya community in Terai Arc Landscape, India.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The importance/study of community-based ethnobotanical traditional knowledge is ever-increasing for designing strategies for conservation and sustainable use, appropriate drugs and dose-illness relationship. AIMS OF THE STUDY: Present study aims to document ethnobotanical attributes of diverse medicinal plants used by the Taungya community to cure ailments in Terai Arc Landscape of India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ethnobotanical data was recorded by opting peoples' participation approach involving interviews, semi-structured meetings, group discussions and filling of questionnaires. RESULTS: Total 116 medicinal plant species comprising 97 genera and 48 families have been recorded, out of which 16% used externally, 39% used internally and 45% used both externally and internally. Various plant parts were used in form of powder, paste, juice, decoction, infusion, poultice and oral consumption to cure a variety of ailments. Twenty-three species are used as remedies against skin problems, 17 species against rheumatism and 14 species against fever. CONCLUSION: Taungya community provided vast ethnobotanical knowledge in form of detail description of 116 medicinal plants (including 82 species with new phytomedicinal claims). Further, investigation on these species may lead to the discovery of novel bioactive molecules.