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Dhanya S.R.1* and P.M. Radhamany2
1Department of Botany, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. 2Emeritus Professor, Department of Botany, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
Email: dhanyaresearch85@gmail.com
Received-26.06.2026, Revised-10.07.2026, Accepted-28.07.2026
Abstract: The present study evaluated the phytochemical composition and pharmacological potential of leaf and root extracts of Justicia santapaui Bennet, an endemic medicinal plant of the Western Ghats, Kerala. Plant materials were sequentially extracted using petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol, and distilled water. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analyses were performed using standard protocols. Antioxidant activity was evaluated through DPPH and FRAP assays; anti-inflammatory potential via protein denaturation, LOX, and COX inhibition assays; antidiabetic activity using α-amylase inhibition assay; and cytotoxicity against SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells using SRB assay. Methanol exhibited the highest extraction yield for both leaves (15.83%) and roots (48%). Leaves demonstrated greater phytochemical diversity (10 classes) compared to roots (6 classes), with alkaloids as the most abundant constituent (65.03 mg/g) in the methanolic leaf extract. The leaf extract exhibited superior antioxidant activity (DPPH IC₅₀ = 381.84 μg/mL; FRAP IC₅₀ = 482.84 mg/mL), potent anti-inflammatory activity (LOX IC₅₀ = 85.34 μg/mL; COX IC₅₀ = 92.67 μg/mL), significant α-amylase inhibition (IC₅₀ = 137.20 μg/mL), and moderate cytotoxicity against SH-SY5Y cells (LC₅₀ = 127.69 μg/mL). The superior bioactivity of leaves correlated with their richer phytochemical composition, including higher alkaloid, phenolic, and flavonoid contents, along with the exclusive presence of cardiac glycosides and steroids. This study provides the first scientific validation of J. santapaui and establishes the methanolic leaf extract as a promising source of bioactive compounds with multi-target therapeutic potential for further bioactivity-guided fractionation and mechanistic studies.
Keywords:Justicia santapaui, Phytochemical screening, Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, Antidiabetic
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