PHYTOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND IN VITRO BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF FRUIT PULP EXTRACTS OF GMELINA ASIATICA L

Abstract

Gmelina asiatica L. is a medicinal plant traditionally used in Ayurveda for the management of various ailments; however, the phytochemical and biological potential of its fruit pulp not evaluated. The present study aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition, GC–MS profile, antioxidant, and antidiabetic activities of G. asiatica fruit pulp extracts. Preliminary phytochemical analysis showed the presence of various primary and secondary metabolites. GC–MS analysis of petroleum ether extract revealed 32 compounds, whereas in ethanol extract 41 compounds were identified including fatty acids, alkanes, sterols, triterpenoids, tocopherols, and other bioactive metabolites. The antioxidant potential was evaluated using DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays, where the ethanolic extract exhibited stronger activity with IC₅₀ values of 64.99 ± 0.82 and 68.82 ± 0.76 µg/mL, respectively. The antidiabetic activity assessed through α-amylase inhibition and glucose uptake by yeast cells demonstrated higher activity in the ethanolic extract (IC₅₀ values of 125.99 ± 1.16 and 142.26 ± 1.73 µg/mL, respectively) than the petroleum ether extract. The observed bioactivities may be attributed to the presence of phenolics, flavonoids, terpenoids, and other phytoconstituents identified during phytochemical and GC–MS analyses. Overall, the findings highlight G. asiatica fruit pulp as a promising source of natural antioxidant and antidiabetic compounds and provide scientific evidence supporting its potential therapeutic applications.