Phytochemical Extraction, Screening, GCMS Analysis and Antioxidant Properties of Ophiorrhiza recurvipetala

Background and Objectives: Most of the people from developing countries depend on plant-based ailments for several diseases due to the occurrence of pharmacological bioactive substances with lowered adverse effects. Ophiorrhiza recurvipetala (OR), a newly identified species from the Rubiaceae family, which was unexplored for its bioactive compounds and antioxidant properties. Materials and Methods: The whole plant samples were collected, authenticated extracted with ethanol and n-hexane, subjected to phytochemical analysis and analyzed by GC-MS. Antioxidant activity of the extracts were assessed using FRAP, DPPH, ABTS, hydroxyl, and superoxide radical scavenging assays. Results: The phytochemical examination explored the presence of several phytochemicals including flavonoids, alkaloids, phenols, steroids, tannins, glycosides, and saponins in the ethanolic (OREE) and n-Hexane (ORNHEX) extracts. GC-MS analysis identified 58 and 81 compounds in OREE and ORNHEX, respectively. Although the results demonstrated that both extracts exhibited significant antioxidant properties, OREE displayed superior radical scavenging activity which was evidenced by IC₅₀ values. Conclusion: These findings suggest that O. recurvipetala has potential bioactive compounds and could serve as a valuable source of natural antioxidants for therapeutic use. This study provides a foundation for further research aimed in isolating and identifying novel compounds with potential applications in medicine and drug development. As far as we understand, this is the first study on this plant species.