The Journal of Phytopharmacology 2026; 15(1):26-34 ; DOI:10.31254/phyto.2026.15104
GC-MS and FTIR guided phytochemical profiling and antioxidant activity evaluation of Mitragyna parvifolia (Roxb.) Korth. bark extracts obtained via ultrasound-assisted extraction
Sheba Raju1 , Nishamol Kanat1 , Jonty Rodrigues1
1. Department of Chemistry, K J Somaiya College of Science and Commerce, Mumbai-400077, Maharashtra, India
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 20th January, 2026 / Accepted: 12th March, 2026 / Published : 30th March, 2026
Background: Plants have secondary metabolites, which can act as antioxidants to neutralize free radicals preventing oxidative stress related health issues. Mitragyna parvifolia (Roxb.) Korth. an ethnomedicinal medicinal plant of the Rubiaceae family that has extensive pharmacological properties. Objective: To study the effect of different solvents on extraction yield, phytochemical content and antioxidant potential of M. parvifolia bark and to profile the major phytochemicals in the most bioactive extract. Materials and Methods: Bark was extracted using methanol, ethanol, aqueous and hydroethanol via the ultrasound-assisted extraction method. Total phenolic content (TPC) and flavonoid content (TFC) of extracts are determined by folin-ciocalteau and aluminium chloride method. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH and Nitric oxide scavenging (NOSA) assays. The metabolite profiling of the bioactive rich extract was performed using Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) and Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results: Among the different solvent extracts of M. parvifolia bark, hydroethanolic extract (HEE) yielded maximum extraction efficiency (11.6 %) with the presence of phenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids, glycosides, and steroids. HEE exhibited greater levels of TPC (120.78 ± 1.165 mg GAE/g) and TFC (76.89 ± 1.424 mg QE/g). In terms of antioxidant activity, HEE showed strongest DPPH and NOSA radical scavenging potential compared to other extracts with IC50 values of 114.27 ± 1.021 ug/mL and 123.47 ± 3.801ug/mL, respectively. The FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of alkanes, alkenes carboxylic and hydroxy groups indicating alcohols, phenols, terpenoids, alkaloids. GC-MS profiling of the HEE revealed the presence of 12 major bioactive phytochemicals, mainly 9-octadecenoic acid, methyl ester (60.67%), Hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester (10.41%), Squalene (1.96 %) and Pterin-6-carboxylic acid (1.25 %). Conclusion: The findings suggest that hydroethanol is the most effective solvent for extracting bioactive phytochemicals from M. parvifolia bark, supporting its traditional therapeutic relevance and potential as natural antioxidant source.
M. parvifolia, Hydroethanol, Phytochemicals, Phytochemistry, Medicinal plant, Radical scavenging
HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE
Raju S, Kanat N, Rodrigues J. GC-MS and FTIR guided phytochemical profiling and antioxidant activity evaluation of Mitragyna parvifolia (Roxb.) Korth. bark extracts obtained via ultrasound-assisted extraction. J Phytopharmacol 2026; 15(1):26-34. doi: 10.31254/phyto.2026.15104
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