Phytochemical
Characterization and Radical Scavenging Activity of Roylea cinerea Leaves
Kshama, Soumya V. and Ray Nillohit Mitra
Res. J. Biotech.; Vol. 20(8); 108-119;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/208rjbt1080119; (2025)
Abstract
Roylea cinerea, a medicinal plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family, is widely recognized
for its pharmacological properties including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and
antioxidant activities. This study aimed to comprehensively analyse the phytochemical
composition and antioxidant potential of Roylea cinerea leaves using qualitative
and quantitative assessments. Various solvents including chloroform, acetone, methanol
and ethanol were employed to extract key bioactive compounds such as alkaloids,
flavonoids and phenolics. The phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of
these compounds across all solvents, with acetone demonstrating the highest efficiency
in extracting alkaloids and flavonoids, while also exhibiting the highest phenolic
content. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was evaluated using the DPPH assay
which indicated that methanol and ethanol extracts exhibited the most potent free
radical scavenging activity, followed by chloroform. HPLC analysis further validated
the separation and identification of major bioactive compounds, although incomplete
separation of late-eluting compounds was observed in acetone and methanol extracts.
This research validates the traditional medicinal uses of Roylea cinerea and underscores
its potential for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications. The strong antioxidant
properties of the plant suggest its relevance in combating oxidative stress-related
disorders such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and cardiovascular conditions.
The study contributes to the growing interest in natural product research by providing
insights into the bioactive potential of Roylea cinerea, paving the way for future
drug discovery and the development of plant-based therapeutics. Further investigations
into the isolation and characterization of individual compounds will enhance the
understanding of the plant’s therapeutic efficacy.
