Food, ethnomedicinal and pharmacological evaluation of Streblus asper Lour. (fruits): a minor nutraceutical of India

Abstract

Qualitative phytochemical analysis and toxicity to Artemia salina are carried out using three extracts of Streblus asper fruit, a minor wild edible fruit of Odisha, followed by thin layer chromatography (TLC) analysis. Results revealed that fruit extracts have diverse secondary metabolites, and methanol extract showed the highest toxicity to A. salina. The aqueous, methanol, and ethanol extracts of S. asper fruits contain tannins, saponins, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, reducing sugars, and alkaloids. The aqueous, methanol, and ethanol extracts of S. asper fruits exhibit cytotoxicity against brine shrimp nauplii, with death rates ranging from 60 to 100% at concentrations of 25–125 mg/mL. The aqueous extract exhibited the highest cytotoxicity at a concentration of 100 mg/mL, resulting in a 100% death rate. Methanol extract shows the highest cytotoxicity at 125 mg/mL (100% death rate). Ethanol extract shows the highest cytotoxicity at 100 mg/mL (100% death rate). Positive control (Vincristine sulfate) and negative control (3.5% saline) showed expected results. Using the chloroform-methanol (2:3) solvent system, TLC analysis showed clear spots for the aqueous and methanol extracts. Rf values for aqueous extract spots: 0.58, 0.70, and 0.88. Rf values for methanol extract spots: 0.81 and 0.60. These findings suggest that S. asper fruit extracts possess bioactive compounds with potential, such as antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, which are attributed to phenolic compounds and flavonoids. The brine shrimp nauplii assay indicates the cytotoxic effects of these fruit extracts on cancer cells. There are potential applications in the pharmaceutical and medicinal industries.