Introduction

Medicinal plants contain essential phytochemicals and are used in traditional herbal therapy for ages. These phytochemicals are bioactive compounds and possess significant antibacterial and antifungal properties in addition to more biologically important potentials. The important bioactive phytochemicals include polyphenolic compounds and flavonoids. Arisaema tortuosum has been reported as a medicinal plant in literature and is used in treating many health issues.

Aim

To investigate the phytochemical composition, total polyphenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant capacity, and β-glucuronidase inhibition potential of the extract obtained from leaves of A. tortuosum.

Methods

The phytochemical composition, TPC, TFC, and antioxidant capacity of the extract was analysed. β-glucuronidase inhibition assay was used to determine β-glucuronidase inhibition potential. The dose-dependent data was used to determine IC50 value of the extract.

Results

The gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis identified the fifty-three components from the leaf extract that was observed to possess a significant volume of TPC and TFC. 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) assay revealed a IC50 value of 936 µg/mL indicating a high antioxidant activity of the extract.

Conclusion

The study revealed the presence of many biologically important phytochemicals and a rich number of total polyphenols and flavonoids in leaf extract of A. tortuosum signifying the potential biomedical applications.