Ophiorrhiza mungos var. angustifolia – Estimation of camptothecin and pharmacological screening

Abstract

Ophiorrhiza mungose var. angustifolia (Thwaites) Hook. f (Family- Rubiaceae) is a recently identified plant from Ophiorrhiza species in Western Ghats of Kerala. The plant is a promising candidate for the production of camptothecin (CPT) - a high value anticancer compound. Preliminary screening of hexane and methanol extract revealed the presence of phenolics, flavonoids, caumarins, steroids, terpeanoids, saponins, carbohydrates and alkaloids. Camptothecin was estimated from methanol extract using high performance liquid chromatography and the level of CPT was 297.94 ± 2.27 µg/g dry weight. The in vitro antioxidant assay revealed both extract showed moderate level of total phenolic content, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, ferric chloride reducing power assay, phospho-molybdate assay of total anti-oxidant capacity and nitric oxide scavenging activity assay. Antimicrobial study reveals that only hexane extract inhibits pathogenic bacteria and fungus. Overall these findings will lead to isolation of active compounds other than camptothecin, elucidate them against wider range of bioactivity studies to find new therapeutic principles.