Phytochemical And Pharmacological Investigation Of Selected Medicinal Plants Used By The Tribes Of Nallamala Forest Eastern Ghats

Abstract

newlineThe Eastern Ghats, a fragmented ancient hill chain running parallel to India s eastern coast, represent a unique repository of ecological diversity and ethnomedicinal knowledge. These ranges, extending across Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and parts of Karnataka, harbour varied forest ecosystems and support rich endemic flora traditionally used in indigenous healthcare systems. However, anthropogenic pressures and environmental degradation threaten these natural resources, underscoring the need for systematic investigation into their medicinal potential. newlineThis research centres on three medicinally significant plant species native to the Eastern Ghats Alternanthera sessilis, Cayratiatrifolia, and Sesbania grandiflora with an aim to evaluate their phytochemical content and pharmacological activities. Extractive values were quantified for all species, indicating bioactive compound richness, particularly in Sesbaniagrandiflora (13.33), followed by Cayratiatrifolia (2.47) and Alternanthera sessilis (1.22). Antioxidant assays using DPPH and nitric oxide scavenging methods established dose-dependent free radical quenching capacity, with notable IC values for Cayratiatrifolia (144.58 µg/ml) and Sesbania grandiflora (107.59 µg/ml). newline