Phytochemical Profiling and Bioactivities of Cajanus albicans Leaf Extract: Antimicrobial, Antidiabetic, and Mosquito...

Cajanus albicans (whitish pigeon pea), native to peninsular India and Sri Lanka, is an underexplored medicinal plant traditionally used by indigenous communities in the Eastern Ghats. This study investigated the chemical composition and bioactivities of its methanolic leaf extract (CALE). Phytochemical analysis revealed high phenolic (246.2 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (126.34 mg RE/g) contents, with 39 bioactive compounds identified via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and functional groups confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). CALE exhibited antibacterial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus aureus, alongside strong antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS assays). It also showed significant antidiabetic effects via α-amylase (60.30%) and α-glucosidase (65.30%) inhibition, supported by molecular docking and ADMET predictions. Additionally, CALE demonstrated 70% larvicidal activity against Culex quinquefasciatus. These results highlight C. albicans as a promising candidate for developing antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and insecticidal formulations, warranting further pharmacological and toxicological studies for potential therapeutic and agricultural applications.