Antibacterial activity and phytochemical characterisation of Saussurea gossypiphora D. Don

The study demonstrates that S. gossypiphora contain number of secondary metabolites such as steroids, tannins, flavonoids, phenolics, carbohydrates, saponins, and amino acids. Methanolic extract (MESG) of the plant contained highest quantity of phenolics, flavonoids and has greater antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activity in comparison to other extracts. Moreover, acute toxicity studies revealed that none of the extracts produced any toxic symptoms and mortality when administered orally to mice at a dose of 2000 mg/kg b. w. Furthermore, in MESG, the SG-4 fraction exhibited the highest antibacterial activity than other isolated fractions against all tested bacterial strains in a dose-dependent manner. SG-4 fraction showed significant anti-inflammatory effect (60.91%) as evident by maximum inhibition of Carrageenan-induced paw oedema in rat model. The HPTLC analysis confirmed the presence of apigenin and luteolin in the SG-4 fraction of methanolic extract. A noticeable number of mineral elements were also found to be present in S. gossypiphora. Conclusively, our study reveals that Saussurea gossypiphora contains plethora of bioactive compounds that contributes to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activity. Apigenin and luteolin possibly being one of them. Besides, the presence of ample minerals hints is utilisation as nutritionally valuable herb.