Isolation and Structural Elucidation of Bioactive Phytoconstituents from Selected Medicinal Plants

Abstract

Medicinal plants are an important source of novel chemical entities that possess diverse therapeutic
activities and contribute significantly to the prevention and treatment of various diseases in living
organisms. These plants are rich in secondary metabolites including alkaloids, flavonoids, polyphenols,
glycosides, tannins and saponins which exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities. These
bioactive phytoconstituents interact with various biological pathways and molecular targets, thereby
producing a wide range of therapeutic effects and contributing to the discovery and development of
effective drug candidates. Owing to their diverse pharmacological properties, phytoconstituents provide
substantial therapeutic benefits and continue to play a significant role in modern medicine. They
function as potent antioxidants that neutralize free radicals which protects cells from damage and
lowering the risk of chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease, neurological disease, cancer and
diabetes. Many of these compounds display strong anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and even
anticancer properties by regulating cell growth and boosting immune responses. Thus, the present study
involves extraction, isolation and characterisation of bioactive constituents of selected medicinal plants.
The dried root powder was used for preparation of extracts of Delphinium denudatum wall. and Berberis
aristata DC. Isolation of individual phytoconstituents was achieved through column chromatographic
separation of the extracts. The isolated fractions were subsequently subjected to chromatographic and
spectroscopic analyses to determine their chemical identity and structural characteristics.