EXPLORING IN-VIVO AND IN-VITRO OXALIS CORNICULATA L. FOR PHYTOCHEMICALS USING NON-TARGETED LC-MS APPROACH AND ITS ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY

Oxalis corniculata Linn. (Oxalidaceae) is the nutraceutical important medicinal plant containing essential nutrients like sodium, potassium, calcium, nitrogen and magnesium and also gives health protection due to the presence of secondary metabolites of therapeutic importance. Present study highlights the phytochemical constituents present in the methanolic extract of in-vivo and in-vitro O. corniculata through non-targeted LC-MS analysis and to reveal the antioxidant capacities of both extracts by analyzing antioxidant assays like DPPH, H₂O₂ radical scavenging, phosphomolybdenum, total phenol content and total flavonoid content. The phytochemical investigation was carried out to identify the possible components from in-vivo and in-vitro whole plant extract by LC-MS. It has revealed 26 compounds having known biological activity among which embelin is the main compound. Embelin is reported for anticancer, antioxidant, antitumor and anti-inflammatory activity. We have confirmed its presence in both in-vivo and in-vitro extracts using HPTLC. Both methanolic extracts of Oxalis corniculata were compared with antioxidant references such as tannic acid, quercetin and ascorbic acid for antioxidant assays. We are first to report that embelin is present as one of the antioxidant bioactive component in both methanolic extracts of Oxalis corniculata. In-vivo and in-vitro extracts of O. corniculata exhibited a significant antioxidant capacity and free radical scavenging activities, probably due to the presence of bioactive constituents and their synergistic action.