Thursday, 7 August 2025

Characterization of Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Activity in Leaf and Flower Extracts of Ruta graveolens L., an Ethnomedicinal Plant of BR Hills, Chamarajanagar, Karnataka, India | Chapter 4 | Pharmaceutical Science: New Insights and Developments Vol. 7

The Rutaceae or rue family is commonly known as the citrus family and consists of cultivated fruit trees and medicinal herbs. Ruta graveolens L. is a scandent, highly medicinal herb distributed in various countries around the globe and has drawn attention due to its ethnomedicinal value.  The present work attempted to study the phytochemicals and antioxidant activity in the leaves, flowers/ seeds in the natural populations of R. graveolens found in the Biligiriranga hills, Karnataka, India.  The phytochemical analysis carried out using leaf, flower and seed extracts of R. graveolens showed the presence of flavonoids and cardiac glycosides. The aqueous extract (polar solvent) of the leaf showed the presence of flavonoids, steroids and terpenoids. The fresh extract of (methanol) flowers and seeds showed the presence of flavonoids and terpenoids. The leaves, flowers and seed extracts showed the presence of four phytochemicals, namely flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids and glycosides. The total phenolic content conducted for the hexane leaf extract was detected at 45.90 µg GAE/g of total phenolics. The ethanol extract of the leaf contained 134.4 µg GAE/g of total phenolics. The aqueous extract of the leaf contained 124.34 µg GAE/g of total phenolics, whereas fresh extract of the flowers and seeds contained 95.71 µg GAE/g of total phenolic content.  High reducing power was found in the ethanol leaf extract, which was followed by aqueous and hexane extracts. The highest percentage of radical scavenging activity was found in the ethanolic extract (94.76% µg/mL) and aqueous extract (89.53% µg/mL). Thin layer chromatography carried out for the leaf ethanolic and flower/seed methanolic extracts detected the presence of three phenolic and six flavonoid bands. These are the phytochemicals implicated in various biological activities. The study of phytochemicals and antioxidants indicated R. graveolens as a good source of phytochemicals such as phenolic compounds and flavonoids. Further, identification of the phytochemicals is necessary to unravel the type of phenolic compounds from Ruta species collected in the wild.

 

Author(s) Details

Sowmya S
Department of Studies in Botany, University of Mysore, Manasagangothri, Mysore–570 006, Karnataka, India.

 

Madhuchhanda Das
Department of Studies in Botany, University of Mysore, Manasagangothri, Mysore–570 006, Karnataka, India.

 

Monnanda S. Nalini
Department of Studies in Botany, University of Mysore, Manasagangothri, Mysore–570 006, Karnataka, India.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/psnid/v7/5937


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