Investigation on the Phytochemical Analysis and Biological Activity of Daphne papyracea Wall. ex Steud. Leaf Extracts from Kumaun Himalaya

The aim of the present research is to examine the leaf extracts of D. papyracea Wall. ex Steud. for their phytochemicals and biological activity. Antimicrobial activities were determined by the disc diffusion method against gram-negative and positive bacterial strains. Qualitative estimations were done for the presence of various phytochemical classes. Quantitative determination of total phenolics, total flavonoids, and two in vitro antioxidant activities (DPPH and FRAP) was carried out using spectrophotometric methods. Phytochemical analysis unveiled the presence of cardiac glycosides, coumarins, and flavonoids in DM, DE, and DC extracts, but saponins were absent in all leaf extracts of D.papyracea. Antimicrobial activity tests revealed that only ethyl acetate extract (DEE) showed positive results at a zone of 14mm against the MTCC-1522 strain. The highest phenolic content was detected in hexane leaf extract (39.69±0.11 mg GAE/g), while the highest flavonoid content was found in methanolic leaf extract, i.e., 131.8±0.15 mg QE/g. The radical scavenging activity measurement was expressed in terms of IC50, and the methanolic extract exhibited the highest scavenging activity (60.50±0.01µg/mL). The highest reducing power (163.29±0.01 mg AA/g) was shown by the methanolic leaf extract. This study showed that D.papyracea is serviceable and may have a future in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Phytochemicals found in this also have virtuous efficacy.