Phytochemical, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Profiling of Saussurea Costus (Falc.) Lipsch., Root Extracts with GC-MS Profiling

Abstract

The plant Saussurea costus (Falc.) Lipsch. is recognised as an endangered plant species and is well recognized in the Indian system of traditional medicine. The goal of this study was to comparison phytochemical, antimicrobial, phenolic, flavonoid, and antioxidant analyses of root extracts of S. costus (SC) growing in the Kashmir region. Four different solvents based on polarity to extract and analyse the potential of these plant extracts. The results indicate higher entire phenolic content (TPC), flavonoid content (TFC), and stronger free radical scavenging action and potential DPPH and FRAP activity in methanolic extracts. The higher antimicrobial activity, with zones of inhibition, was observed in the order of Escherichia coli > Staphylococcus aureus > Candida albicans. All extracts showed moderate antioxidant and antimicrobial potential, but methanolic extracts of the roots have overall higher activity than ethyl acetate, followed by hexane and aqueous extracts in a concentration-dependent manner. The Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) profiling of root methanolic extracts helped determine different active secondary compounds that are accountable for the medicinal properties of S. costus root extracts at variable concentrations.