Phytochemical Profiling and Antioxidant Assessment of Methanolic Leaf Extract of Ziziphus oenoplia from Badangi Village, Odisha

Background

The traditional understanding of plant-based medicine has been passed down through the ages and has been assimilated by various ethnic groups as ethnopharmacological knowledge. The present study focuses on the specific phytochemical makeup, therapeutic applications, and pharmacological characteristics of the various components of this multifunctional tree, Z. oenoplia, collected from tribal areas of the Badangi region in Ganjam district, Odisha. Ziziphus oenoplia (L.) Mill., known by most as Jackal jujube, is a traditional medicinal shrub and a species of the Rhamnaceae family.

Materials and Methods

Fresh Z. oenoplia leaves were obtained from the Badangi region. Both qualitative and quantitative phytochemical investigations were performed on the obtained methanolic extracts using standard screening techniques. Spectrophotometric methods were used to quantify the Total Phenolic Content (TPC) and Total Flavonoid Content (TFC). The DPPH radical scavenging assay was used to measure antioxidant activity, and IC₅₀ values were computed to determine the extract's potency.

Results

Preliminary phytochemical analysis indicated the methanolic extract of the leaves contained alkaloids, steroids, flavonoids, proteins, tannins, and phenolic compounds, but glycoside and saponins were absent. The quantitative analysis showed that the methanolic extract exhibited a Total Phenolic Content (TPC): 67.62 ± 1.46 mg GAE/g, and Total Flavonoid Content (TFC): 60.53 ± 0.78 mg RE/g. The extract exhibited strong DPPH radical scavenging activity, with an IC₅₀ value of approximately 86.64 µg/mL.

Conclusion

According to the study, Z. oenoplia leaves have a rich phytochemical profile along with significant antioxidant effects, which confirms their traditional usage to address various health conditions, notably liver disorders, blood purification, pain relief for the abdomen, febrifuge, wound healing, anthelmintic, astringent, and uterine irritation. The presence of phenolics and flavonoids likely underpins its pharmacological effects. These findings highlight the therapeutic relevance of Z. oenoplia and support further research into its bioactive compounds and potential applications in herbal medicine.