GC-MS Analysis and Antioxidant Activity of Wrightia tinctoria R.Br. Leaf Extract

Background Wrightia tinctoria R.Br. (Apocyanaceae) is known as a biologically effective plant for the treatment of jaundice in the Indian traditional system of medicine. It is a wild medicinal tree possessing anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antinociceptive, hepatoprotective, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antipsoriatic, anticancerous, anthelmintic, aphrodisiac, analgesic, and antipyretic activities. Its constituents are of utmost interest to pharmaceutical industries owing to their many actions and biological activities. Method Methanolic extract of W. tinctoria (MEWT) was investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy and provided affirmative results assisting in the identification and characterization of therapeutic claims regarding this species in the traditional system. The antioxidant activity of MEWT was determined by the most suitable DPPH method. Results The basic compounds found in MEWT were β-caryophyllene (0.22%), mome inositol (12.02%), neophytadiene (1.61%), eicosanoic acid methyl ester (0.32%), 8,11,14-eicosatrienoic acid methyl ester (0.60%), phytol (0.94%), phytol palmitate (1.37%), squalene (1.57%), flavone 4-OH, 5-OH, 7-di-O-glucoside (29.34%), γ-tocopherol (0.49%), stigmast-5-en-3-ol (3.14%), methyl commate B (1.76%), methyl commate A (5.20%), and 24-norursa-3,12-diene (20.36%). The obtained results in the analysis of antioxidant activity of MEWT exhibited considerable free radical scavenging capacity against DPPH-generated free radicals. Conclusions This study expands the knowledge of MEWT chemical composition and provides evidence to substantiate ethno-medicinal use of the plant by exploring antioxidant activity. The substantial antioxidant activity of MEWT could be due to presence of terpenes, flavonoids, vitamin E, and other reported compounds. Highlights This study includes identification of phytochemicals and antioxidant potential of methanolic extract of Wrightia tinctoria, assisting in therapeutic claims regarding this species in the traditional system.