Phytochemical, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of Periploca aphyla and Mentha longifolia, selected medicinal plants of District Bannu, Pakistan

Abstract

Mentha longifolia and Periphloca aphyla are a well known species widely applied in medicine as a constituent of various drugs, and are very liked in aromatherapy. The current study was desighned to investigate the phytochemical screening, cytotoxic and antioxidant capacity of methanolic extract of Mentha longifolia and Periphloca aphyla. The methanolic extract of Mentha longifolia via qualitative analysis revealed the presence of terpenoids, saponins and flavonoids while anthraquinones, coumarins, cardiac glycosides, tannins, and phlobtannins remained absent. The extract also showed maximum free radical scavenging and cytotoxic potential in various concentrations in Mentha longifolia and Periphloca aphyla. The results revealed that methanolic extract of these plants contain a remarkable antioxidant and cytotoxic activity due the presence of bioactive constituents.