Phytochemical characterization, antioxidant potential, and cytotoxic activity of Erythrina variegata leaf extract an integrated spectroscopic and bioassay approach

Abstract

The present study investigated the phytochemical composition, antioxidant potential and cytotoxic activity of Erythrina variegata leaf extract through integrated spectroscopic and bioassay approaches. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, phenolic, and other bioactive compounds, as confirmed by UV-Visible and FT-IR spectroscopic analysis. The extract exhibited significant dose-dependent antioxidant activity in multiple assay systems, demonstrating potent free radical scavenging capacity against DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay (IC-50 = 42.2 μg/mL), superoxide (IC-50 = 48.52 μg/mL), and nitric oxide (IC50 = 49.93 μg/mL) radicals, with performance comparable to ascorbic acid standards. Notably, the extract showed strong iron chelating ability (80.23% at 80 μg/mL), suggesting potential in mitigating metal-induced oxidative stress. Cytotoxicity evaluation revealed concentration-dependent growth inhibition in human cancer cell lines, with an IC-50 of 185.15 μg/mL, while maintaining relatively low toxicity at concentrations below 50 μg/mL. These findings highlight E. variegata as a promising source of natural antioxidants with selective cytotoxic properties, warranting further investigation into its bioactive constituents and potential therapeutic applications. The study provides scientific validation for the traditional use of this plant and suggests its potential as a dual-function agent in oxidative stress management and cancer therapy.