Pharmaceutical Properties and Phytochemical Profile of Extract Derived from Purple Leaf (Graptophyllum pictum (L.)) Griff

INTRODUCTION: Graptophyllum pictum (L.) Griff is a medicinal shrub belonging to the Acanthaceae family and is traditionally used to treat various diseases. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the pharmaceutical properties and phytochemical profiles of the methanolic extract of G. pictum.
METHODS: G.pictum leaves was extracted using methanol. Antioxidant, Cytotoxic on MCF-7 and HepG2, antidiabetic, and antibacterial properties were evaluated in vitro. Chemical profile of the extract was identified through qualitative(for phytochemicals), quantitative (for phenolic and flavonoid content), and GC-MS analysis.
RESULTS: The results showed that the extract had potent antioxidant activity against 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals with IC50 values of 49.00±3.20 µg/mL and 70.18±3.27 µg/mL, respectively. It also exhibited cytotoxic effects on the human breast (MCF-7) and liver (HepG2) carcinoma cells with growth inhibition percentages of 74.29±1.53% and 64.90±1.94%, respectively. The analysis showed that the extract had inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase activity with IC50 value 194.59±15.59 µg/mL, indicating its potential to be developed as an antidiabetic agent. Furthermore, it had antibacterial properties against four test strains, and the highest activity was found against Bacillus subtilis strain ATCC 19659, with MIC and MBC values of 625 µg/mL and 1250 µg/mL, respectively. Phytochemical tests indicated the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenoids in the extract, with total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) of 41.17±2.38 mg GAE/g and 26.52±0.61 mg QE/g, respectively. Based on the Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, it contained several active compounds, including eicosane, 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, hentriacontane, tetracosane, octacosane, sulfurous acid, 2-methylhexacosane, docosane, heneicosane, 1-propene-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid, tributyl ester, and pentacosane.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Extract derived from G. pictum leaves was a potential source of therapeutic compounds, particularly for antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, and antibacterial agent.