Phytochemical Identification of Clerodendrum phlomidis Linn. by GC-MS Analysis and its Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Activity

Background: Agnimantha is an important Ayurvedic medicinal plant mentioned in the text of Acharya charak. Agni means fire and mantha means to rub together to produce fire in ancient times. Objectives: Clerodendrum phlomides Linn. (CP) leaf extracts examined for their phytochemical composition and antioxidant properties, as well as their ability to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AchE). Materials and Methods: A coarse powder was ground from the leaves after being shade dried at room temperature. Alcoholic and hydroalcoholic extracts of leaf tissues were dried and used to identify phytochemicals by gas chromatography, in vitro radical scavenging assays, and AchE inhibition assays. Results: In the phytochemical screening procedures, fifteen constituents were identified in the alcoholic leaf extract of CP. AchE was inhibited by the extracts in a dose dependent manner as demonstrated by in vitro scavenging tests including FRAP assay (alcoholic 215.20 μg/ml and hydro alcoholic 288.70 μg/ ml) and DPPH radical (alcoholic 167.70 μg/ml and hydro alcoholic 347.19 μg/ml). Inhibition of AchE was observed at 250 μg/ml of CP alcoholic and hydroalcoholic leaf extracts. Conclusion: We demonstrate that CP inhibits AchE activity and is capable of scavenging radicals in vitro, indicating that it could serve as an effective therapy for reversing the cholinergic deficit caused by Neurological diseases.

Key words: Clerodendrum phlomides, Antioxidants, Acetylcholinesterase, Phytochemical identification, GC-MS analysis, Oxidative stress.